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4 analyze one's feeling for a friend -- but certainly one of the great things in you that I respect is your detachment from the influences that clutch at the artist on every side. You told 'em to go to hell, because in addition to what you did not know you would not be burdened with what they did not know.

But about the novel: You take it -- all of it -- treat the manuscript as if it were your own -- save or throw out where you think best -- use the thought or phrase of it -- add or subtract at any point. If it ever gets to a publisher, let it be as your own, over your own name. You have as great strong a claim to it as I -- and it may be as I think that the novel is in the fact of my writing it. I will it to you on condition that you keep my name out of it.

Meanwhile I shall go on with the second story -- writing for release -- disciplining my imagination as it certainly needs to keep it clean -- unhampered by mechanics (but the second story is certainly a better job)

Again my repugnance to cant; but I really do not see the importance of the artist's name. There is good precedent. The Book of Job for one -- a rather apt illustration in my case.

Write me -- and if you think I need another drubbing -- well -- you know how to administer it

Affectionately George