按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
＇SARANAC； FEBRUARY 1888。＇
DEAR MR。 BURLINGAME； … 1。 Of course then don't use it。 Dear Man；
I write these to please you； not myself； and you know a main sight
better than I do what is good。 In that case； however； I enclose
another paper； and return the corrected proof of PULVIS ET UMBRA；
so that we may be afloat。
2。 I want to say a word as to the MASTER。 （THE MASTER OF
BALLANTRAE shall be the name by all means。） If you like and want
it； I leave it to you to make an offer。 You may remember I thought
the offer you made when I was still in England too small； by which
I did not at all mean； I thought it less than it was worth； but too
little to tempt me to undergo the disagreeables of serial
publication。 This tale （if you want it） you are to have； for it is
the least I can do for you； and you are to observe that the sum you
pay me for my articles going far to meet my wants； I am quite open
to be satisfied with less than formerly。 I tell you I do dislike
this battle of the dollars。 I feel sure you all pay too much here
in America； and I beg you not to spoil me any more。 For I am
getting spoiled： I do not want wealth； and I feel these big sums
demoralise me。
My wife came here pretty ill； she had a dreadful bad night； to…day
she is better。 But now Valentine is ill； and Lloyd and I have got
breakfast； and my hand somewhat shakes after washing dishes。 …
Yours very sincerely；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
P。S。 … Please order me the EVENING POST for two months。 My
subscription is run out。 The MUTINY and EDWARDES to hand。
Letter： TO SIDNEY COLVIN
＇SARANAC； MARCH 1888。＇
MY DEAR COLVIN； … Fanny has been very unwell。 She is not long
home； has been ill again since her return； but is now better again
to a degree。 You must not blame her for not writing； as she is not
allowed to write at all； not even a letter。 To add to our
misfortunes； Valentine is quite ill and in bed。 Lloyd and I get
breakfast； I have now； 10。15； just got the dishes washed and the
kitchen all clear； and sit down to give you as much news as I have
spirit for； after such an engagement。 Glass is a thing that really
breaks my spirit： I do not like to fail； and with glass I cannot
reach the work of my high calling … the artist's。
I am； as you may gather from this； wonderfully better： this harsh；
grey； glum； doleful climate has done me good。 You cannot fancy how
sad a climate it is。 When the thermometer stays all day below 10
degrees； it is really cold； and when the wind blows； O commend me
to the result。 Pleasure in life is all delete； there is no red
spot left； fires do not radiate； you burn your hands all the time
on what seem to be cold stones。 It is odd； zero is like summer
heat to us now； and we like； when the thermometer outside is really
low； a room at about 48 degrees： 60 degrees we find oppressive。
Yet the natives keep their holes at 90 degrees or even 100 degrees。
This was interrupted days ago by household labours。 Since then I
have had and （I tremble to write it； but it does seem as if I had）
beaten off an influenza。 The cold is exquisite。 Valentine still
in bed。 The proofs of the first part of the MASTER OF BALLANTRAE
begin to come in； soon you shall have it in the pamphlet form； and
I hope you will like it。 The second part will not be near so good；
but there … we can but do as it'll do with us。 I have every reason
to believe this winter has done me real good； so far as it has
gone； and if I carry out my scheme for next winter； and succeeding
years； I should end by being a tower of strength。 I want you to
save a good holiday for next winter； I hope we shall be able to
help you to some larks。 Is there any Greek Isle you would like to
explore？ or any creek in Asia Minor？ … Yours ever affectionately；
R。 L。 S。
Letter： TO THE REV。 DR。 CHARTERIS
＇SARANAC LAKE； WINTER 1887…1888。＇
MY DEAR DR。 CHARTERIS； … I have asked Douglas and Foulis to send
you my last volume； so that you may possess my little paper on my
father in a permanent shape； not for what that is worth； but as a
tribute of respect to one whom my father regarded with such love；
esteem； and affection。 Besides； as you will see； I have brought
you under contribution； and I have still to thank you for your
letter to my mother； so more than kind； in much； so just。 It is my
hope； when time and health permit； to do something more definite
for my father's memory。 You are one of the very few who can （if
you will） help me。 Pray believe that I lay on you no obligation； I
know too well； you may believe me； how difficult it is to put even
two sincere lines upon paper； where all； too； is to order。 But if
the spirit should ever move you； and you should recall something
memorable of your friend； his son will heartily thank you for a
note of it。 … With much respect； believe me； yours sincerely；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Letter： TO HENRY JAMES
＇SARANAC LAKE； MARCH 1888。＇
MY DEAR DELIGHTFUL JAMES； … To quote your heading to my wife； I
think no man writes so elegant a letter； I am sure none so kind；
unless it be Colvin； and there is more of the stern parent about
him。 I was vexed at your account of my admired Meredith： I wish I
could go and see him； as it is I will try to write。 I read with
indescribable admiration your EMERSON。 I begin to long for the day
when these portraits of yours shall be collected： do put me in。
But Emerson is a higher flight。 Have you a TOURGUENEFF？ You have
told me many interesting things of him； and I seem to see them
written； and forming a graceful and BILDEND sketch。 My novel is a
tragedy； four parts out of six or seven are written； and gone to
Burlingame。 Five parts of it are sound； human tragedy； the last
one or two； I regret to say； not so soundly designed； I almost
hesitate to write them； they are very picturesque； but they are
fantastic； they shame； perhaps degrade； the beginning。 I wish I
knew； that was how the tale came to me however。 I got the
situation； it was an old taste of mine： The older brother goes out
in the '45； the younger stays； the younger； of course； gets title
and estate and marries the bride designate of the elder … a family
match； but he （the younger） had always loved her； and she had
really loved the elder。 Do you see the situation？ Then the devil
and Saranac suggested this DENOUEMENT； and I joined the two ends in
a day or two of constant feverish thought； and began to write。 And
now … I wonder if I have not gone too far with the fantastic？ The
elder brother is an INCUBUS： supposed to be killed at Culloden； he
turns up again and bleeds the family of money； on that stopping he
comes and lives with them； whence flows the real tragedy； the
nocturnal duel of the brothers （very naturally； and indeed； I