You ask if "stories" must have action. The name "story" is preferably used of narrative, not reflection nor mental analysis. The "psychological novel" is in great vogue just now, for example--the adventures of the mind, it might be called--but it requires a profounder knowledge of life and character than is possible to a young girl of whatever talent; and the psychological "short story" is even more difficult. Keep to narrative and simple description for a few years, until your wings have grown. These descriptions of foreign places that you write me are good practice. You are not likely to tell me much that I do not know, nor is that necessary; but your way of telling what I do know is sometimes very interesting as a study of _you_. So write me all you will, and if you would like the letters as a record of your travels you shall have them back; I am preserving them. I judge from your letter that your father went straight through without bothering about me. Maybe I should not have seen him anyhow, for I was away from Washington for nearly a month. Please give my love to your mother and sister, whom, of course, you are to bring here. I shall not forgive you if you do not. Yes, I wish that you lived nearer to me, so that we could go over your work together. I could help you more in a few weeks _that_ way than in years _this_ way. God never does anything just right. Sincerely yours, AMBROSE BIERCE. [Washington, D. C., July 31, 1911.] DEAR GEORGE, Thank you for that Times "review." It is a trifle less malicious than usual--regarding _me_, that is all. My publisher, Neale, who was here last evening, is about "taking action" against that concern for infringement of his copyright in my little book, "Write It Right." The wretches have been serving it up to their readers for several weeks as the work of a woman named Learned. Repeatedly she uses my very words--whole passages of them. They refused even to confess the misdeeds of their contributrix, and persist in their sin. So they will have to fight. * * * I have never been hard on women whose hearts go with their admiration, and whose bodies follow their hearts--I don't mean that the latter was the case in this instance. Nor am I very exacting as to the morality of my men friends. I would not myself take another man's woman, any more than I would take his purse. Nor, I trust, would I seduce the daughter or sister of a friend, nor any maid whom it would at all damage--and as to _that_ there is no hard and fast rule. * * * * * A fine fellow, I, to be casting the first stone, or the one-hundredth, at a lovelorn woman, weak or strong! By the way, I should not believe in the love of a strong one, wife, widow or maid.