Excerpt from Polite Satires: Containing, the Unknown Hand; The Volcanic Island; Square Pegs (Classic Reprint)
Juliet (dreamily). Hans Andersen, when he was old and frail, Said that his life had been a fairy-tale. (looking up.) That's what mine is! Think of it — by a freak Of Fortune to be famous in one week, And with my first book! Would it have made quite Such a commotion had I dared to write Under my name? Who knows? But if you've penned A merciless portrait of your dearest friend, You simply can't avow it. And a book That bears a man's name has a weightier look Somehow. My novel! Why, it seems an age Since last I gloated on the title-page. (she takes up the novel from the table.) The Strong Man's Library. Number Seventeen. Calypso and Her Loves, by Galahad Green. Second Impression.' Then down there, quite small. The modest publishers-chapman and Hall. (turning to the envelopes on the table.) Oh, and they've sent me — Is it from Chapman? Yes Another batch of cuttings from the Press. Quite a lot, too! I'll give them just a glance Before I go to supper. (taking the envelope which is on top, she extracts a number of Press cuttings, looks through them hastily and tosses them back on to the table one by one.)