think I should write much more fiction； at any rate of the kind that people would buy。 With the exception of certain stories that I should like to tell for their own sake； and not to earn money by them。 I should occupy my time with writings of a different sort； connected； probably； for the most part with the land； agriculture； and social matters。 For instance； I should dearly like to finish my survey of rural England； and to undertake that of Scotland； Wales； and Ireland — tasks； I suppose； that I shall never be able to execute。 Only this year23 I had arranged to make an effort to investigate and write on the agriculture of Ireland。 But then； of a sudden； I was appointed to the Dominions Royal mission； and how could I find time for both？ The months that I had proposed to devote to Ireland I have been obliged to spend in writing a story。
22 1912。 — Ed。
I know that folk — very superior folk — exist who affect to scorn the base person who does one kind of work when he would like to do another； merely because the former does and the latter does not pay。 There is something to be said for this position； but if a man chances to realise that he does not live unto himself alone； and to have many dependent upon him； directly or indirectly； or if he chances to desire to render gratuitous services to his country； he must； in such a case； “cut his coat according to his cloth。”
Therefore； although I should have dearly liked to place on record my views of Irish agriculture； in place thereof I have found myself obliged to edit certain of the reminiscences of Mr。 Allan Quatermain。 To be honest； these have amused me not a little； perhaps because I always find it easy to ain； who； after all； is only myself set in a variety of imagined situations； thinking my thoughts