It is verily on recognising that flush on a whole side of "The Awkward Age" that I brand it all, but ever so tenderly, as monstrous--which is but my way of noting the QUANTITY of finish it stows away.

Since I speak so undauntedly, when need is, of the value of composition, I shall not beat about the bush to claim for these pages the maximum of that advantage.

If such a feat be possible in this field as really taking a lesson from one's own adventure I feel I have now not failed of it--to so much more demonstration of my profit than I can hope to carry through do I find myself urged.

Thus it is that, still with a remnant of self-respect, or at least of sanity, one may turn to complacency, one may linger with pride.

Let my pride provoke a frown till I justify it; which--though with more matters to be noted here than I have room for I shall accordingly proceed to do.
Yet I must first make a brave face, no doubt, and present in its native humility my scant but quite ponderable germ.