Change of meaning

In 1899 Grant Allen died, leaving his novel Hilda Wade unfinished. I'm reading it now, and in the publisher's preface they discuss Allen's untimely death (of illness at 51) and his distress at not being able to complete the book. The publisher says that this distress was relieved by his neighbor, Conan Doyle, who discussed the final chapter with Allen and then, using his notes, wrote it for publication.

The publisher called this "a beautiful and pathetic act of friendship which it is a pleasure to record".

How words do change.