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（about）。 The scene； near Kirkcudbright； in the States； and for a
little moment in the French East Indies。 I have done most of the
big work； the quarrel； duel between the brothers； and announcement
of the death to Clementina and my Lord … Clementina； Henry； and
Mackellar （nicknamed Squaretoes） are really very fine fellows； the
Master is all I know of the devil。 I have known hints of him； in
the world； but always cowards； he is as bold as a lion； but with
the same deadly； causeless duplicity I have watched with so much
surprise in my two cowards。 'Tis true； I saw a hint of the same
nature in another man who was not a coward； but he had other things
to attend to； the Master has nothing else but his devilry。 Here
come my visitors … and have now gone； or the first relay of them；
and I hope no more may come。 For mark you； sir； this is our 'day'
… Saturday； as ever was； and here we sit； my mother and I； before a
large wood fire and await the enemy with the most steadfast
courage； and without snow and greyness： and the woman Fanny in New
York for her health； which is far from good； and the lad Lloyd at
the inn in the village because he has a cold； and the handmaid
Valentine abroad in a sleigh upon her messages； and to…morrow
Christmas and no mistake。 Such is human life： LA CARRIERE
HUMAINE。 I will enclose； if I remember； the required autograph。
I will do better； put it on the back of this page。 Love to all；
and mostly； my very dear Colvin； to yourself。 For whatever I say
or do； or don't say or do； you may be very sure I am； … Yours
always affectionately；
R。 L。 S。
Letter： TO MISS ADELAIDE BOODLE
SARANAC LAKE； ADIRONDACKS； N。Y。； U。S。A。； CHRISTMAS 1887。
MY DEAR MISS BOODLE； … And a very good Christmas to you all； and
better fortune； and if worse； the more courage to support it …
which I think is the kinder wish in all human affairs。 Somewhile …
I fear a good while … after this； you should receive our Christmas
gift； we have no tact and no taste； only a welcome and （often）
tonic brutality； and I dare say the present； even after my friend
Baxter has acted on and reviewed my hints； may prove a White
Elephant。 That is why I dread presents。 And therefore pray
understand if any element of that hamper prove unwelcome； IT IS TO
BE EXCHANGED。 I will not sit down under the name of a giver of
White Elephants。 I never had any elephant but one； and his
initials were R。 L。 S。； and he trod on my foot at a very early age。
But this is a fable； and not in the least to the point： which is
that if； for once in my life； I have wished to make things nicer
for anybody but the Elephant （see fable）； do not suffer me to have
made them ineffably more embarrassing； and exchange … ruthlessly
exchange！
For my part； I am the most cockered up of any mortal being； and one
of the healthiest； or thereabout； at some modest distance from the
bull's eye。 I am condemned to write twelve articles in SCRIBNER'S
MAGAZINE for the love of gain； I think I had better send you them；
what is far more to the purpose； I am on the jump with a new story
which has bewitched me … I doubt it may bewitch no one else。 It is
called THE MASTER OF BALLANTRAE … pronounce Ballan…tray。 If it is
not good； well； mine will be the fault； for I believe it is a good
tale。
The greetings of the season to you； and your mother； and your
sisters。 My wife heartily joins。 … And I am； yours very sincerely；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
P。S。 … You will think me an illiterate dog： I am； for the first
time； reading ROBERTSON'S SERMONS。 I do not know how to express
how much I think of them。 If by any chance you should be as
illiterate as I； and not know them； it is worth while curing the
defect。
R。 L。 S。
Letter： TO CHARLES BAXTER
SARANAC LAKE； JANUARY '88。
DEAR CHARLES； … You are the flower of Doers。 。 。 。 Will my doer
collaborate thus much in my new novel？ In the year 1794 or 5； Mr。
Ephraim Mackellar； A。M。； late。 steward on the Durrisdeer estates；
completed a set of memoranda （as long as a novel） with regard to
the death of the （then） late Lord Durrisdeer； and as to that of his
attainted elder brother； called by the family courtesy title the
Master of Ballantrae。 These he placed in the hands of John
Macbrair。 W。S。； the family agent； on the understanding they were
to be sealed until 1862； when a century would have elapsed since
the affair in the wilderness （my lord's death）。 You succeeded Mr。
Macbrair's firm； the Durrisdeers are extinct； and last year； in an
old green box； you found these papers with Macbrair's indorsation。
It is that indorsation of which I want a copy； you may remember；
when you gave me the papers； I neglected to take that； and I am
sure you are a man too careful of antiquities to have let it fall
aside。 I shall have a little introduction descriptive of my visit
to Edinburgh； arrival there； denner with yoursel'； and first
reading of the papers in your smoking…room： all of which； of
course； you well remember。 … Ever yours affectionately；
R。 L S。
Your name is my friend Mr。 Johnstone Thomson； W。S。！！！
Letter： TO E。 L。 BURLINGAME
SARANAC； WINTER 1887…8。
DEAR MR。 BURLINGAME； … I am keeping the sermon to see if I can't
add another。 Meanwhile； I will send you very soon a different
paper which may take its place。 Possibly some of these days soon I
may get together a talk on things current； which should go in （if
possible） earlier than either。 I am now less nervous about these
papers； I believe I can do the trick without great strain； though
the terror that breathed on my back in the beginning is not yet
forgotten。
THE MASTER OF BALLANTRAE I have had to leave aside； as I was quite
worked out。 But in about a week I hope to try back and send you
the first four numbers： these are all drafted； it is only the
revision that has broken me down； as it is often the hardest work。
These four I propose you should set up for me at once； and we'll
copyright 'em in a pamphlet。 I will tell you the names of the BONA
FIDE purchasers in England。
The numbers will run from twenty to thirty pages of my manuscript。
You can give me that much； can you not？ It is a howling good tale
… at least these first four numbers are； the end is a trifle more
fantastic； but 'tis all picturesque。
Don't trouble about any more French books； I am on another scent；
you see； just now。 Only the FRENCH IN HINDUSTAN I await with
impatience； as that is for BALLANTRAE。 The scene of that romance
is Scotland … the States … Scotland … India … Scotland … and the
States again； so it jumps like a flea。 I have enough about the
States now； and very much obliged I am； yet if Drake's TRAGEDIES OF
the WILDERNESS is （as I gather） a collection of originals； I should
like to