gives some measure of the risk G.K. took in making
exactly the same attacks.

Gilbert had not so much natural buoyancy as Cecil: he got far less
fun out of making these attacks. Still less had he the recklessness
that made Cecil indifferent even to the charge of inaccuracy. That
charge was in fact the only one that Gilbert feared. Writing to a
contributor whose article he had held back in order to verify an
accusation made in it, Gilbert remarked that he had no fear of a
lawsuit when he was certain of his facts: he did not fear fine or
imprisonment:--he had one fear only, "I am afraid of being answered."

There was another thing he feared: hurting or distressing his
friends. This was especially a danger for one, so many of whose
friends were also his opponents in politics or religion: and who was
now editing a paper of so controversial a character. With H. G. Wells
he had a real bond of affection, and an interesting correspondence
with and about him illustrates all Gilbert's qualities; consideration
for his subordinates: for his friendships; concern for the integrity
of his paper: sense of responsibility to Cecil's memory.

During an editorial absence the assistant editor, Mr. Titterton, had
accepted a series of articles called "Big Little H. G. Wells" from
Edwin Pugh, which seemed to be turning into an attack on Wells
instead of an appreciation. Chesterton wrote to Mr. Titterton and
simultaneously to Wells himself--

DEAR WELLS,

The sudden demands of other duties, which I really could not see
how to avoid, has prevented my attending to the _New Witness_ lately:
and I have only just heard, on the telephone, that you have written a
letter to the paper touching an unfortunate difference between you
and Edwin Pugh. I don't yet know the contents of your letter but of
course I have told my _locum tenens_ that it is to be printed
whatever it is, this week or next. I am really exceedingly distressed
to have been out of the business at the time; but if you knew the
circumstances I think you would see the difficulty; and my editorial
absence has not been a holiday. As it is, I agreed to the general
idea of a study of your work by Pugh; and I confess it never even
crossed my mind that anybody would write such a thing except as a
tribute to your genius and the intellectual interest of the subject;
nor can I believe it now. It may strike you as so ironical as to be
incredible;