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！
〃If； however； you should not be able to come thus far； I can promise two things。 First； I shall religiously revise what I have written； and bring out more clearly the point of view from which I regarded Thoreau。 Second； I shall in the preface record your objection。
〃The point of view （and I must ask you not to forget that any such short paper is essentially only a SECTION THROUGH a man） was this： I desired to look at the man through his books。 Thus； for instance； when I mentioned his return to the pencil…making； I did it only in passing （perhaps I was wrong）； because it seemed to me not an illustration of his principles； but a brave departure from them。 Thousands of such there were I do not doubt； still they might be hardly to my purpose； though； as you say so； I suppose some of them would be。
〃Our difference as to 'pity；' I suspect； was a logomachy of my making。 No pitiful acts； on his part； would surprise me： I know he would be more pitiful in practice than most of the whiners； but the spirit of that practice would still seem to me to be unjustly described by the word pity。
〃When I try to be measured； I find myself usually suspected of a sneaking unkindness for my subject； but you may be sure； sir； I would give up most other things to be as good a man as Thoreau。 Even my knowledge of him leads me thus far。
〃Should you find yourself able to push on so far … it may even lie on your way … believe me your visit will be very welcome。 The weather is cruel； but the place is； as I daresay you know； the very WALE of Scotland … bar Tummelside。 … Yours very sincerely；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。〃
Some delay took place in my leaving London for Scotland； and hence what seemed a hitch。 I wrote mentioning the reason of my delay； and expressing the fear that I might have to forego the prospect of seeing him in Braemar； as his circumstances might have altered in the meantime。 In answer came this note； like so many； if not most of his； indeed； without date：…
THE COTTAGE； CASTLETON OF BRAEMAR。 （NO DATE。）
〃MY DEAR SIR； … I am here as yet a fixture； and beg you to come our way。 Would Tuesday or Wednesday suit you by any chance？ We shall then； I believe； be empty： a thing favourable to talks。 You get here in time for dinner。 I stay till near the end of September； unless； as may very well be； the weather drive me forth。 … Yours very sincerely； ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。〃
I accordingly went to Braemar； where he and his wife and her son were staying with his father and mother。
These were red…letter days in my calendar alike on account of pleasant intercourse with his honoured father and himself。 Here is my pen…and…ink portrait of R。 L。 Stevenson； thrown down at the time：
Mr Stevenson's is； indeed； a very picturesque and striking figure。 Not so tall probably as he seems at first sight from his extreme thinness； but the pose and air could not be otherwise described than as distinguished。 Head of fine type； carried well on the shoulders and in walking with the impression of being a little thrown back； long brown hair； falling from under a broadish…brimmed Spanish form of soft felt hat； Rembrandtesque； loose kind of Inverness cape when walking； and invariable velvet jacket inside the house。 You would say at first sight； wherever you saw him； that he was a man of intellect； artistic and individual； wholly out of the common。 His face is sensitive； full of expression； though it could not be called strictly beautiful。 It is longish； especially seen in profile； and features a little irregular； the brow at once high and broad。 A hint of vagary； and just a hint in the expression； is qualified by the eyes； which are set rather far apart from each other as seems； and with a most wistful； and at the same time possibly a merry impish expression arising over that； yet frank and clear； piercing； but at the same time steady； and fall on you with a gentle radiance and animation as he speaks。 Romance； if with an indescribable SOUPCON of whimsicality； is marked upon him； sometimes he has the look as of the Ancient Mariner； and could fix you with his glittering e'e； and he would； as he points his sentences with a movement of his thin white forefinger； when this is not monopolised with the almost incessant cigarette。 There is a faint suggestion of a hair…brained sentimental trace on his countenance； but controlled； after all； by good Scotch sense and shrewdness。 In conversation he is very animated； and likes to ask questions。 A favourite and characteristic attitude with him was to put his foot on a chair or stool and rest his elbow on his knee； with his chin on his hand； or to sit； or rather to half sit； half lean； on the corner of a table or desk； one of his legs swinging freely； and when anything that tickled him was said he would laugh in the heartiest manner； even at the risk of bringing on his cough； which at that time was troublesome。 Often when he got animated he rose and walked about as he spoke； as if movement aided thought and expression。 Though he loved Edinburgh； which was full of associations for him； he had no good word for its east winds； which to him were as death。 Yet he passed one winter as a 〃Silverado squatter；〃 the story of which he has inimitably told in the volume titled THE SILVERADO SQUATTERS； and he afterwards spent several winters at Davos Platz； where； as he said to me； he not only breathed good air； but learned to know with closest intimacy John Addington Symonds； who 〃though his books were good； was far finer and more interesting than any of his books。〃 He needed a good deal of nursery attentions； but his invalidism was never obtrusively brought before one in any sympathy…seeking way by himself； on the contrary； a very manly； self…sustaining spirit was evident； and the amount of work which he managed to turn out even when at his worst was truly surprising。
His wife； an American lady； is highly cultured； and is herself an author。 In her speech there is just the slightest suggestion of the American accent； which only made it the more pleasing to my ear。 She is heart and soul devoted to her husband； proud of his achievements； and her delight is the consciousness of substantially aiding him in his enterprises。
They then had with them a boy of eleven or twelve； Samuel Lloyd Osbourne； to be much referred to later （a son of Mrs Stevenson by a former marriage）； whose delight was to draw the oddest； but perhaps half intentional or unintentional caricatures； funny； in some cases； beyond expression。 His room was designated the picture… gallery； and on entering I could scarce refrain from bursting into laughter； even at the general effect； and； noticing this； and that I was putting some restraint on myself out of respect for the host's feelings； Stevenson said to me with a sly wink and a gentle dig in the ribs； 〃It's laugh and be thankful here。〃 On Lloyd's account simple engraving materials； types； and a small printing… press had been procured； and it was Stevenson's delight to make funny poems； stories； and morals for the engravings executed； and all would be duly printed together。 St