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HUMAINE； cureless misery … unless perhaps by the gallows。 Death is
a great and gentle solvent； it has never had justice done it； no；
not by Whitman。 As for those crockery chimney…piece ornaments； the
bourgeois （QUORUM PARS）； and their cowardly dislike of dying and
killing； it is merely one symptom of a thousand how utterly they
have got out of touch of life。 Their dislike of capital punishment
and their treatment of their domestic servants are for me the two
flaunting emblems of their hollowness。
God knows where I am driving to。 But here comes my lunch。
Which interruption； happily for you； seems to have stayed the
issue。 I have now nothing to say； that had formerly such a
pressure of twaddle。 Pray don't fail to come this summer。 It will
be a great disappointment； now it has been spoken of； if you do。 …
Yours ever；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON
Letter： TO W。 H。 LOW
＇SKERRYVORE； BOURNEMOUTH； MARCH 1886。＇
MY DEAR LOW； … This is the most enchanting picture。 Now understand
my state： I am really an invalid； but of a mysterious order。 I
might be a MALADE IMAGINAIRE； but for one too tangible symptom； my
tendency to bleed from the lungs。 If we could go； （1ST） We must
have money enough to travel with LEISURE AND COMFORT … especially
the first。 （2ND） You must be prepared for a comrade who would go
to bed some part of every day and often stay silent （3RD） You
would have to play the part of a thoughtful courier； sparing me
fatigue； looking out that my bed was warmed； etc。 （4TH） If you are
very nervous； you must recollect a bad haemorrhage is always on the
cards； with its concomitants of anxiety and horror for those who
are beside me。
Do you blench？ If so； let us say no more about it。
If you are still unafraid； and the money were forthcoming； I
believe the trip might do me good； and I feel sure that； working
together； we might produce a fine book。 The Rhone is the river of
Angels。 I adore it： have adored it since I was twelve； and first
saw it from the train。
Lastly； it would depend on how I keep from now on。 I have stood
the winter hitherto with some credit； but the dreadful weather
still continues； and I cannot holloa till I am through the wood。
Subject to these numerous and gloomy provisos； I embrace the
prospect with glorious feelings。
I write this from bed； snow pouring without； and no circumstance of
pleasure except your letter。 That； however； counts for much。 I am
glad you liked the doggerel： I have already had a liberal cheque；
over which I licked my fingers with a sound conscience。 I had not
meant to make money by these stumbling feet； but if it comes； it is
only too welcome in my handsome but impecunious house。
Let me know soon what is to be expected … as far as it does not
hang by that inconstant quantity； my want of health。 Remember me
to Madam with the best thanks and wishes； and believe me your
friend；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Letter： TO MRS。 FLEEMING JENKIN
＇SKERRYVORE； BOURNEMOUTH； APRIL 1886。＇
MY DEAR MRS。 JENKIN； … I try to tell myself it is good nature； but
I know it is vanity that makes me write。
I have drafted the first part of Chapter VI。； Fleeming and his
friends； his influence on me； his views on religion and literature；
his part at the Savile； it should boil down to about ten pages； and
I really do think it admirably good。 It has so much evoked
Fleeming for myself that I found my conscience stirred just as it
used to be after a serious talk with him： surely that means it is
good？ I had to write and tell you； being alone。
I have excellent news of Fanny； who is much better for the change。
My father is still very yellow； and very old； and very weak； but
yesterday he seemed happier； and smiled； and followed what was
said； even laughed； I think。 When he came away； he said to me；
'Take care of yourself； my dearie；' which had a strange sound of
childish days； and will not leave my mind。
You must get Litolf's GAVOTTES CELEBRES： I have made another
trover there： a musette of Lully's。 The second part of it I have
not yet got the hang of； but the first … only a few bars！ The
gavotte is beautiful and pretty hard； I think； and very much of the
period； and at the end of it； this musette enters with the most
really thrilling effect of simple beauty。 O … it's first…rate。 I
am quite mad over it。 If you find other books containing Lully；
Rameau； Martini； please let me know； also you might tell me； you
who know Bach； where the easiest is to be found。 I write all
morning； come down； and never leave the piano till about five；
write letters； dine； get down again about eight； and never leave
the piano till I go to bed。 This is a fine life。 … Yours most
sincerely；
R。 L。 S。
If you get the musette （Lully's）； please tell me if I am right； and
it was probably written for strings。 Anyway； it is as neat as … as
neat as Bach … on the piano； or seems so to my ignorance。
I play much of the Rigadoon but it is strange； it don't come off
QUITE so well with me！
＇Musical score which cannot be reproduced＇
There is the first part of the musette copied （from memory； so I
hope there's nothing wrong）。 Is it not angelic？ But it ought； of
course； to have the gavotte before。 The gavotte is in G； and ends
on the keynote thus （if I remember）：…
＇Musical score which cannot be reproduced＇
staccato； I think。 Then you sail into the musette。
N。B。 … Where I have put an 'A；' is that a dominant eleventh； or
what？ or just a seventh on the D？ and if the latter； is that
allowed？ It sounds very funny。 Never mind all my questions； if I
begin about music （which is my leading ignorance and curiosity）； I
have always to babble questions： all my friends know me now； and
take no notice whatever。 The whole piece is marked allegro； but
surely could easily be played too fast？ The dignity must not be
lost； the periwig feeling。
Letter： TO THOMAS STEVENSON
＇SKERRYVORE； BOURNEMOUTH； March 1886。＇
MY DEAR FATHER； … The David problem has to…day been decided。 I am
to leave the door open for a sequel if the public take to it； and
this will save me from butchering a lot of good material to no
purpose。 Your letter from Carlisle was pretty like yourself； sir；
as I was pleased to see； the hand of Jekyll； not the hand of Hyde。
I am for action quite unfit； and even a letter is beyond me； so
pray take these scraps at a vast deal more than their intrinsic
worth。 I am in great spirits about David； Colvin agreeing with
Henley； Fanny； and myself in thinking it far the most human of my
labours hitherto。 As to whether the long…eared British public may
take to it； all think it more than doubtful； I wish they would； for
I could do a second volume with ease and pleasure； and C