Page:The cream of the jest; a comedy of evasions (IA creamofjestcomed00caberich).pdf/88

 for one matter, they insisted on transposing to the rear of the volume, where it now figures as the book's tolerably famous Colophon—that curious exposition of Kennaston's creed as artist. Then, for a title, The Audit at Storisende was editorially adjudged abominable: people would not know how to pronounce Storisende, and in consequence would hold back from discussing the romance or even asking for it at book-dealers. Men Who Loved Ettarre was Kennaston's ensuing suggestion; but the Baxon-Muir Company showed no fixed confidence in their patrons' ability to pronounce Ettarre, either. Would it not be possible, they inquired, to change the heroine's name?—and Kennaston assented. Thus it was that in the end his book came to be called ''Men Who Loved Alison''.

But to Kennaston her name stayed always Ettarre

The book was delivered to the world, which received the gift without excitement. The book was delivered to reviewers, who found in it a well-intentioned echo of Mr. Maurice Hewlett's