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me： I cannot make marks with a pen … witness 'ingloriously' above；
and my amanuensis not appearing so early in the day； for she is
then immersed in household affairs； and I can hear her 'steering
the boys' up and down the verandahs … you must decipher this
unhappy letter for yourself and； I fully admit； with everything
against you。 A letter should be always well written； how much more
a letter of apology！ Legibility is the politeness of men of
letters； as punctuality of kings and beggars。 By the punctuality
of my replies； and the beauty of my hand…writing； judge what a fine
conscience I must have！
Now； my dear gamekeeper； I must really draw to a close。 For I have
much else to write before the mail goes out three days hence。
Fanny being asleep； it would not be conscientious to invent a
message from her； so you must just imagine her sentiments。 I find
I have not the heart to speak of your recent loss。 You remember
perhaps； when my father died； you told me those ugly images of
sickness； decline； and impaired reason； which then haunted me day
and night； would pass away and be succeeded by things more happily
characteristic。 I have found it so。 He now haunts me； strangely
enough； in two guises； as a man of fifty； lying on a hillside and
carving mottoes on a stick； strong and well； and as a younger man；
running down the sands into the sea near North Berwick； myself …
AETAT。 II … somewhat horrified at finding him so beautiful when
stripped！ I hand on your own advice to you in case you have
forgotten it； as I know one is apt to do in seasons of bereavement。
… Ever yours； with much love and sympathy；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Letter： TO MRS。 BAKER
VAILIMA； SAMOA； JULY 16； 1894。
DEAR MRS。 BAKER； … I am very much obliged to you for your letter
and the enclosure from Mr。 Skinner。 Mr。 Skinner says he 'thinks
Mr。 Stevenson must be a very kind man'； he little knows me。 But I
am very sure of one thing； that you are a very kind woman。 I envy
you … my amanuensis being called away； I continue in my own hand；
or what is left of it … unusually legible； I am thankful to see … I
envy you your beautiful choice of an employment。 There must be no
regrets at least for a day so spent； and when the night falls you
need ask no blessing on your work。
'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of these。' … Yours truly；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Letter： TO J。 M。 BARRIE
VAILIMA； JULY 13； 1894。
MY DEAR BARRIE； … This is the last effort of an ulcerated
conscience。 I have been so long owing you a letter； I have heard
so much of you； fresh from the press； from my mother and Graham
Balfour； that I have to write a letter no later than to…day； or
perish in my shame。 But the deuce of it is； my dear fellow； that
you write such a very good letter that I am ashamed to exhibit
myself before my junior （which you are； after all） in the light of
the dreary idiot I feel。 Understand that there will be nothing
funny in the following pages。 If I can manage to be rationally
coherent； I shall be more than satisfied。
In the first place； I have had the extreme satisfaction to be shown
that photograph of your mother。 It bears evident traces of the
hand of an amateur。 How is it that amateurs invariably take better
photographs than professionals？ I must qualify invariably。 My own
negatives have always represented a province of chaos and old night
in which you might dimly perceive fleecy spots of twilight；
representing nothing； so that； if I am right in supposing the
portrait of your mother to be yours； I must salute you as my
superior。 Is that your mother's breakfast？ Or is it only
afternoon tea？ If the first； do let me recommend to Mrs。 Barrie to
add an egg to her ordinary。 Which； if you please； I will ask her
to eat to the honour of her son； and I am sure she will live much
longer for it； to enjoy his fresh successes。 I never in my life
saw anything more deliciously characteristic。 I declare I can hear
her speak。 I wonder my mother could resist the temptation of your
proposed visit to Kirriemuir； which it was like your kindness to
propose。 By the way； I was twice in Kirriemuir； I believe in the
year '71； when I was going on a visit to Glenogil。 It was
Kirriemuir； was it not？ I have a distinct recollection of an inn
at the end … I think the upper end … of an irregular open place or
square； in which I always see your characters evolve。 But； indeed；
I did not pay much attention； being all bent upon my visit to a
shooting…box； where I should fish a real trout…stream； and I
believe preserved。 I did； too； and it was a charming stream； clear
as crystal； without a trace of peat … a strange thing in Scotland …
and alive with trout； the name of it I cannot remember； it was
something like the Queen's River； and in some hazy way connected
with memories of Mary Queen of Scots。 It formed an epoch in my
life； being the end of all my trout…fishing。 I had always been
accustomed to pause and very laboriously to kill every fish as I
took it。 But in the Queen's River I took so good a basket that I
forgot these niceties； and when I sat down； in a hard rain shower；
under a bank； to take my sandwiches and sherry； lo！ and behold；
there was the basketful of trouts still kicking in their agony。 I
had a very unpleasant conversation with my conscience。 All that
afternoon I persevered in fishing； brought home my basket in
triumph； and sometime that night； 'in the wee sma' hours ayont the
twal；' I finally forswore the gentle craft of fishing。 I dare say
your local knowledge may identify this historic river； I wish it
could go farther and identify also that particular Free kirk in
which I sat and groaned on Sunday。 While my hand is in I must tell
you a story。 At that antique epoch you must not fall into the
vulgar error that I was myself ancient。 I was； on the contrary；
very young； very green； and （what you will appreciate； Mr。 Barrie）
very shy。 There came one day to lunch at the house two very
formidable old ladies … or one very formidable； and the other what
you please … answering to the honoured and historic name of the
Miss C… A…'s of Balnamoon。 At table I was exceedingly funny； and
entertained the company with tales of geese and bubbly…jocks。 I
was great in the expression of my terror for these bipeds； and
suddenly this horrid； severe； and eminently matronly old lady put
up a pair of gold eye…glasses； looked at me awhile in silence； and
pronounced in a clangorous voice her verdict。 'You give me very
much the effect of a coward； Mr。 Stevenson！' I had very nearly
left two vices behind me at Glenogil … fishing and jesting at
table。 And of one thing you may be very sure； my lips were no more
opened at that meal。
JULY 29TH
No； Barrie； 'tis in vain they try to alarm me with