The Splendid Spur

The Splendid Spur, by Arthur T.
Quiller Couch

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Title: The Splendid Spur
Author: Arthur T. Quiller Couch
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[Illustration: "I loved thee so, boy Jack."]
THE SPLENDID SPUR
BEING MEMOIRS OF THE ADVENTURES OF MR. JOHN
MARVEL, A SERVANT OF HIS LATE MAJESTY KING
CHARLES I., IN THE YEARS 1642-3: WRITTEN BY HIMSELF:
Edited in Modern English by
Q (ARTHUR T. QUILLER COUCH)
1897

TO
EDWARD GWYNNE EARDLEY-WILMOT.
MY DEAR EDDIE,

Whatever view a story-teller may take of his business, 'tis happy when
he can think, "This book of mine will please such and such a friend,"
and may set that friend's name after the title page. For even if to please
(as some are beginning to hold) should be no part of his aim, at least
'twill always be a reward: and (in unworthier moods) next to a Writer I
would choose to be a Lamplighter, as the only other that gets so cordial
a "God bless him!" in the long winter evenings.
To win such a welcome at such a time from a new friend or two would
be the happiest fortune for my tale. But to you I could wish it to speak
particularly, seeing that under the coat of JACK MARVEL beats the
heart of your friend
Q.
Torquay, August 22d, 1889.

INTRODUCTORY NOTE.
"Q."
A year or two ago it was observed that three writers were using the
curiously popular signature "Q." This was hardly less confusing than
that one writer should use three signatures (Grant Allen, Arbuthnot
Wilson, and Anon), but as none of the three was willing to try another
letter, they had to leave it to the public (whose decision in such matters
is final) to say who is Q to it. The public said, Let him wear this proud
letter who can win it, and for the present at least it is in the possession
of the author of "The Splendid Spur" and "The Blue Pavilions." It
would seem, too, as if it were his "to keep," for "Q" is like the
competition cups that are only yours for a season, unless you manage to
carry them three times in succession. Mr. Quiller-Couch has been
champion Q since 1890.
The interesting question is not so much, What has he done to be the
only prominent Q of these years, as Is he to be the Q of all time? If so,
he will do better work than he has yet done, though several of his latest

sketches--and one in particular--are of very uncommon merit. Mr.
Quiller-Couch is so unlike Mr. Kipling that one immediately wants to
compare them. They are both young, and they have both shown such
promise that it will be almost sad if neither can write a book to live--as,
of course, neither has done as yet. Mr. Kipling is the more audacious,
which is probably a matter of training. He was brought up in India,
where one's beard grows much quicker than at Oxford, and where you
not only become a man (and a cynic) in a hurry, but see and hear
strange things (and print them) such as the youth of Oxford miss, or,
becoming acquainted with, would not dare insert in the local magazine
of the moment. So Mr. Kipling's first work betokened a knowledge of
the world that is by no means to be found in "Dead Man's Rock," the
first book published by Mr. Quiller-Couch. On the other hand, it cannot
truly be said that Mr. Kipling's latest