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！
inconsiderable planet。 You remain in my mind for a good reason；
having given me （in so short a time） the most delightful pleasure。
I shall remember； and you must still be beautiful。 The truth is；
you must grow more so； or you will soon be less。 It is not so easy
to be a flower； even when you bear a flower's name。 And if I
admired you so much； and still remember you； it is not because of
your face； but because you were then worthy of it； as you must
still continue。
Will you give my heartiest congratulations to Mr。 S。？ He has my
admiration； he is a brave man； when I was young； I should have run
away from the sight of you； pierced with the sense of my unfitness。
He is more wise and manly。 What a good husband he will have to be！
And you … what a good wife！ Carry your love tenderly。 I will
never forgive him … or you … it is in both your hands … if the face
that once gladdened my heart should be changed into one sour or
sorrowful。
What a person you are to give flowers！ It was so I first heard of
you； and now you are giving the May flower！
Yes； Skerryvore has passed； it was； for us。 But I wish you could
see us in our new home on the mountain； in the middle of great
woods； and looking far out over the Pacific。 When Mr。 S。 is very
rich； he must bring you round the world and let you see it； and see
the old gentleman and the old lady。 I mean to live quite a long
while yet； and my wife must do the same； or else I couldn't manage
it； so； you see； you will have plenty of time； and it's a pity not
to see the most beautiful places； and the most beautiful people
moving there； and the real stars and moon overhead； instead of the
tin imitations that preside over London。 I do not think my wife
very well； but I am in hopes she will now have a little rest。 It
has been a hard business； above all for her； we lived four months
in the hurricane season in a miserable house； overborne with work；
ill…fed； continually worried； drowned in perpetual rain； beaten
upon by wind； so that we must sit in the dark in the evenings； and
then I ran away； and she had a month of it alone。 Things go better
now； the back of the work is broken； and we are still foolish
enough to look forward to a little peace。 I am a very different
person from the prisoner of Skerryvore。 The other day I was three…
and…twenty hours in an open boat； it made me pretty ill； but fancy
its not killing me half…way！ It is like a fairy story that I
should have recovered liberty and strength； and should go round
again among my fellow…men； boating； riding； bathing； toiling hard
with a wood…knife in the forest。 I can wish you nothing more
delightful than my fortune in life； I wish it you； and better； if
the thing be possible。
Lloyd is tinkling below me on the typewriter； my wife has just left
the room； she asks me to say she would have written had she been
well enough； and hopes to do it still。 … Accept the best wishes of
your admirer；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Letter： TO MISS ADELAIDE BOODLE
＇VAILIMA； MAY 1891。＇
MY DEAR ADELAIDE； … I will own you just did manage to tread on my
gouty toe； and I beg to assure you with most people I should simply
have turned away and said no more。 My cudgelling was therefore in
the nature of a caress or testimonial。
God forbid； I should seem to judge for you on such a point； it was
what you seemed to set forth as your reasons that fluttered my old
Presbyterian spirit … for； mind you； I am a child of the
Covenanters … whom I do not love； but they are mine after all； my
father's and my mother's … and they had their merits too； and their
ugly beauties； and grotesque heroisms； that I love them for； the
while I laugh at them； but in their name and mine do what you think
right； and let the world fall。 That is the privilege and the duty
of private persons； and I shall think the more of you at the
greater distance； because you keep a promise to your fellow…man；
your helper and creditor in life； by just so much as I was tempted
to think the less of you （O not much； or I would never have been
angry） when I thought you were the swallower of a （tinfoil）
formula。
I must say I was uneasy about my letter； not because it was too
strong as an expression of my unregenerate sentiments； but because
I knew full well it should be followed by something kinder。 And
the mischief has been in my health。 I fell sharply sick in Sydney；
was put aboard the LUBECK pretty bad； got to Vailima； hung on a
month there； and didn't pick up as well as my work needed； set off
on a journey； gained a great deal； lost it again； and am back at
Vailima； still no good at my necessary work。 I tell you this for
my imperfect excuse that I should not have written you again sooner
to remove the bad taste of my last。
A road has been called Adelaide Road； it leads from the back of our
house to the bridge； and thence to the garden； and by a bifurcation
to the pig pen。 It is thus much traversed； particularly by Fanny。
An oleander； the only one of your seeds that prospered in this
climate； grows there； and the name is now some week or ten days
applied and published。 ADELAIDE ROAD leads also into the bush； to
the banana patch； and by a second bifurcation over the left branch
of the stream to the plateau and the right hand of the gorges。 In
short； it leads to all sorts of good； and is； besides； in itself a
pretty winding path； bound downhill among big woods to the margin
of the stream。
What a strange idea； to think me a Jew…hater！ Isaiah and David and
Heine are good enough for me； and I leave more unsaid。 Were I of
Jew blood； I do not think I could ever forgive the Christians； the
ghettos would get in my nostrils like mustard or lit gunpowder。
Just so you as being a child of the Presbytery； I retain … I need
not dwell on that。 The ascendant hand is what I feel most
strongly； I am bound in and in with my forbears； were he one of
mine； I should not be struck at all by Mr。 Moss of Bevis Marks； I
should still see behind him Moses of the Mount and the Tables and
the shining face。 We are all nobly born； fortunate those who know
it； blessed those who remember。
I am； my dear Adelaide； most genuinely yours；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Write by return to say you are better； and I will try to do the
same。
Letter： TO CHARLES BAXTER
＇VAILIMA＇； TUESDAY； 19TH MAY '91。
MY DEAR CHARLES； … I don't know what you think of me； not having
written to you at all during your illness。 I find two sheets begun
with your name； but that is no excuse。 。 。 。 I am keeping bravely；
getting about better； every day； and hope soon to be in my usual
fettle。 My books begin to come； and I fell once more on the Old
Bailey session papers。 I have 1778； 1784； and 1786。 Should you be
able to lay hands on any oth