F. M.’s influence is now steadily deepening and, thank God, along the lines I have hoped and dreamed.... In the writings to come I hope a deeper and richer and truer note of inward joy and spiritual hope will be the living influence. In one of the stories in this book, “The Distant Country” occurs a sentence that is to be inscribed on my gravestone when my time comes.
“Love is more great than we conceive and Death is the keeper of unknown redemptions.”
Lovingly,
Will.
To another correspondent he wrote:
... Well, if it gains wide and sincere appreciation I shall be glad: if it should practically be ignored I shall be sorry: but, beyond that, I am indifferent. I know what I have tried to do: I know what I have done: I know the end to which I work: I believe in the sowers who will sow and the reapers who will reap, from some seed of the spirit in this book: and knowing this, I have little heed of any other considerations. Beauty, in itself, for itself, is my dream: and in some expression of it, in the difficult and subtle art of words, I have a passionate absorption.”
In a letter to Mr. Macleay W. S. explained that Fiona’s new book is the logical outcome of the others: the deeper note, the vox humana, of these. I think it is more than merely likely that this is the last book of its kind. I have had to live my books—and so must follow an inward law—that is truth to art as well as to life I think. There is, however, a miscellaneous volume (of ‘appreciations,’ and mystical studies) and also a poetic volume which I suppose should be classed with it. I imagine that, thereafter, her development will be on unexpected lines, both in fiction and the drama: judging both from what I know and what I have seen. In every sense I think you are right when you speak of ‘surprise’ as an element in what we may expect from her.... I suppose some of that confounded controversy about Miss M. and myself will begin again....
To Mr. W. B. Yeats the author wrote about the book, and described our plans for the summer:
Monday, 1899.
My dear Yeats,