E. G. Swain (1861–1938)

p. xviii "When you read these stories, do not expect Swain to be a carbon-copy of M.R. James. While his friend was influenced by Le Fanu's horrifying tales, Swain, who produced more genteel stories, creates a more Dickensian feeling. In Stoneground, there are no characters as dark as Mr. Abney, Count Magnus, or the abominable Mr. Karswell. Only the entity from 'The Rockery' is truly dangerous; the others generally want only peace or justice. That the friendship between the two authors continued for many years after the publication of Swain's volume shows that James must have appreciated the erudition and wit which they contain."

p 16 "...The books there are arranged as he arranged and ticketed them. Little slips of paper, sometimes bearing interesting fragments of writing, still mark his places. His marginal comments still give life to pages from which all other interest has faded, and he would have but a dull imagination who could sit in the chamber amidst these books without ever being carried back 180 years into the past, to the time when the newest of them left the printer's hands."

p. 36 "...The next incident has, to some, appeared incredible, which only means, after all, that it has made demands on their powers of imagination and found them bankrupt.

Critics of story-telling have used severe language about authors who avail themselves of the short-cut of coincidence. 'That must be reserved, I suppose,' said Mr. Batchel, when he came to tell of Richpin, 'for what really happens; and that fiction is a game which must be played according to the rules.'

p. 39 "...It is a large painted window, of a somewhat unfortunate period of execution. The drawing and colouring leave everything to be desired."

p. 56-57 "...He had learned from a friend in the Indian Civil Service that an exaggerated value was often placed by ambitious Indians and Cingalese upon a European education, and that many aspiring young men declined to take a wife who had not passed this very examination. It was to Mr. Batchel a disquieting reflection that his blue pencil was not only marking mistakes, but might at the same time be cancelling matrimonial engagements, and his friend's communication had made him scrupulously careful in examining the work of young ladies in Oriental Schools...

...Young ladies were notoriously weak in argument, and as strong in conclusions!" and after all, the conclusion was correct, and ought not a correct conclusion to have its marks? There followed much more to the same purpose, and in the end Mr. Batchel stultified himself by adding the necessary three marks and passing the candidate.