MANDEVILLE. I'm not sure of that. There are those who arefriendless, and would be if they had endless acquaintances. But, totake the case away from ordinary examples, in which habit and athousand circumstances influence liking, what is it that determinesthe world upon a personal regard for authors who it has never seen?

THE FIRE-TENDER. Probably it is the spirit shown in their writings.

THE MISTRESS. More likely it is a sort of tradition; I don't believethat the world has a feeling of personal regard for any author whowas not loved by those who knew him most intimately.