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which does not seem to have been presented； as I see nothing of it
in his accounts。 Query； was that lost？ I should not like you to
think I had been so unmannerly and so inhuman。 If you have written
since； your letter also has miscarried； as is much the rule in this
part of the world； unless you register。
Your book is not yet to hand； but will probably follow next month。
I detected you early in the BOOKMAN； which I usually see； and noted
you in particular as displaying a monstrous ingratitude about the
footnote。 Well； mankind is ungrateful； 'Man's ingratitude to man
makes countless thousands mourn；' quo' Rab … or words to that
effect。 By the way； an anecdote of a cautious sailor： 'Bill；
Bill；' says I to him； 'OR WORDS TO THAT EFFECT。'
I shall never take that walk by the Fisher's Tryst and Glencorse。
I shall never see Auld Reekie。 I shall never set my foot again
upon the heather。 Here I am until I die； and here will I be
buried。 The word is out and the doom written。 Or； if I do come；
it will be a voyage to a further goal； and in fact a suicide；
which； however； if I could get my family all fixed up in the money
way； I might； perhaps； perform； or attempt。 But there is a plaguey
risk of breaking down by the way； and I believe I shall stay here
until the end comes like a good boy； as I am。 If I did it； I
should put upon my trunks： 'Passenger to … Hades。' How strangely
wrong your information is！ In the first place； I should never
carry a novel to Sydney； I should post it from here。 In the second
place； WEIR OF HERMISTON is as yet scarce begun。 It's going to be
excellent； no doubt； but it consists of about twenty pages。 I have
a tale； a shortish tale in length； but it has proved long to do；
THE EBB TIDE； some part of which goes home this mail。 It is by me
and Mr。 Osbourne； and is really a singular work。 There are only
four characters； and three of them are bandits … well； two of them
are； and the third is their comrade and accomplice。 It sounds
cheering； doesn't it？ Barratry； and drunkenness； and vitriol； and
I cannot tell you all what； are the beams of the roof。 And yet … I
don't know … I sort of think there's something in it。 You'll see
（which is more than I ever can） whether Davis and Attwater come off
or not。
WEIR OF HERMISTON is a much greater undertaking； and the plot is
not good； I fear； but Lord Justice…Clerk Hermiston ought to be a
plum。 Of other schemes； more or less executed； it skills not to
speak。
I am glad to hear so good an account of your activity and
interests； and shall always hear from you with pleasure； though I
am； and must continue； a mere sprite of the inkbottle； unseen in
the flesh。 Please remember me to your wife and to the four…year…
old sweetheart； if she be not too engrossed with higher matters。
Do you know where the road crosses the burn under Glencorse Church？
Go there； and say a prayer for me： MORITURUS SALUTAT。 See that
it's a sunny day； I would like it to be a Sunday； but that's not
possible in the premises； and stand on the right…hand bank just
where the road goes down into the water； and shut your eyes； and if
I don't appear to you！ well； it can't be helped； and will be
extremely funny。
I have no concern here but to work and to keep an eye on this
distracted people。 I live just now wholly alone in an upper room
of my house； because the whole family are down with influenza； bar
my wife and myself。 I get my horse up sometimes in the afternoon
and have a ride in the woods； and I sit here and smoke and write；
and rewrite； and destroy； and rage at my own impotence； from six in
the morning till eight at night； with trifling and not always
agreeable intervals for meals。
I am sure you chose wisely to keep your country charge。 There a
minister can be something； not in a town。 In a town； the most of
them are empty houses … and public speakers。 Why should you
suppose your book will be slated because you have no friends？ A
new writer； if he is any good； will be acclaimed generally with
more noise than he deserves。 But by this time you will know for
certain。 … I am； yours sincerely；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
P。S。 … Be it known to this fluent generation that I R。 L。 S。； in
the forty…third of my age and the twentieth of my professional
life； wrote twenty…four pages in twenty…one days； working from six
to eleven； and again in the afternoon from two to four or so；
without fail or interruption。 Such are the gifts the gods have
endowed us withal： such was the facility of this prolific writer！
R。 L。 S。
Letter： TO AUGUSTUS ST。 GAUDENS
VAILIMA； SAMOA； MAY 29TH； 1893
MY DEAR GOD…LIKE SCULPTOR； … I wish in the most delicate manner in
the world to insinuate a few commissions：…
No。 1。 Is for a couple of copies of my medallion； as gilt…edged and
high…toned as it is possible to make them。 One is for our house
here； and should be addressed as above。 The other is for my friend
Sidney Colvin； and should be addressed … Sidney Colvin； Esq。；
Keeper of the Print Room； British Museum； London。
No。 2。 This is a rather large order； and demands some explanation。
Our house is lined with varnished wood of a dark ruddy colour； very
beautiful to see； at the same time； it calls very much for gold；
there is a limit to picture frames； and really you know there has
to be a limit to the pictures you put inside of them。 Accordingly；
we have had an idea of a certain kind of decoration； which； I
think； you might help us to make practical。 What we want is an
alphabet of gilt letters （very much such as people play with）； and
all mounted on spikes like drawing…pins； say two spikes to each
letter； one at top； and one at bottom。 Say that they were this
height；
I
I
I
and that you chose a model of some really exquisitely fine； clear
type from some Roman monument； and that they were made either of
metal or some composition gilt … the point is； could not you； in
your land of wooden houses； get a manufacturer to take the idea and
manufacture them at a venture； so that I could get two or three
hundred pieces or so at a moderate figure？ You see； suppose you
entertain an honoured guest； when he goes he leaves his name in
gilt letters on your walls； an infinity of fun and decoration can
be got out of hospitable and festive mottoes； and the doors of
every room can be beautified by the legend of their names。 I
really think there is something in the idea； and you might be able
to push it with the brutal and licentious manufacturer； using my
name if necessary； though I should think the name of the god…like
sculptor would be more germane。 In case you should get it started；
I should tell you that we should require commas in order to write
the Samoan language； which is full of w