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we rode fast； did a mighty satisfactory afternoon's work at
the plantation house； and still faster back。 On the return
Jack fell with me； but got up again； when I felt him
recovering I gave him his head； and he shoved his foot
through the rein； I got him by the bit however； and all was
well； he had mud over all his face； but his knees were not
broken。 We were scarce home when the rain began again； that
was luck。 It is pouring now in torrents； we are in the
height of the bad season。 Lloyd leaves along with this
letter on a change to San Francisco； he had much need of it；
but I think this will brace him up。 I am； as you see； a
tower of strength。 I can remember riding not so far and not
near so fast when I first came to Samoa； and being shattered
next day with fatigue； now I could not tell I have done
anything； have re…handled my battle of Fangalii according to
yesterday's information … four pages rewritten； and written
already some half…dozen pages of letters。
I observe with disgust that while of yore； when I own I was
guilty； you never spared me abuse； but now； when I am so
virtuous； where is the praise？ Do admit that I have become
an excellent letter…writer … at least to you； and that your
ingratitude is imbecile。 … Yours ever；
R。 L。 S。
CHAPTER XV
JAN 31ST； '92。
MY DEAR COLVIN； … No letter at all from you； and this scratch
from me！ Here is a year that opens ill。 Lloyd is off to
'the coast' sick … THE COAST means California over most of
the Pacific … I have been down all month with influenza； and
am just recovering … I am overlaid with proofs； which I am
just about half fit to attend to。 One of my horses died this
morning； and another is now dying on the front lawn … Lloyd's
horse and Fanny's。 Such is my quarrel with destiny。 But I
am mending famously； come and go on the balcony； have
perfectly good nights； and though I still cough； have no
oppression and no hemorrhage and no fever。 So if I can find
time and courage to add no more； you will know my news is not
altogether of the worst； a year or two ago； and what a state
I should have been in now！ Your silence； I own； rather
alarms me。 But I tell myself you have just miscarried； had
you been too ill to write； some one would have written me。
Understand； I send this brief scratch not because I am unfit
to write more； but because I have 58 galleys of the WRECKER
and 102 of the BEACH OF FALESA to get overhauled somehow or
other in time for the mail； and for three weeks I have not
touched a pen with my finger。
FEB。 1ST。
The second horse is still alive； but I still think dying。
The first was buried this morning。 My proofs are done； it
was a rough two days of it； but done。 CONSUMMATUM EST； NA
UMA。 I believe the WRECKER ends well； if I know what a good
yarn is； the last four chapters make a good yarn … but pretty
horrible。 THE BEACH OF FALESA I still think well of； but it
seems it's immoral and there's a to…do； and financially it
may prove a heavy disappointment。 The plaintive request sent
to me； to make the young folks married properly before 'that
night；' I refused； you will see what would be left of the
yarn； had I consented。 This is a poison bad world for the
romancer； this Anglo…Saxon world； I usually get out of it by
not having any women in it at all； but when I remember I had
the TREASURE OF FRANCHARD refused as unfit for a family
magazine； I feel despair weigh upon my wrists。
As I know you are always interested in novels； I must tell
you that a new one is now entirely planned。 It is to be
called SOPHIA SCARLET； and is in two parts。 Part I。 The
Vanilla Planter。 Part II。 The Overseers。 No chapters； I
think； just two dense blocks of narrative； the first of which
is purely sentimental； but the second has some rows and
quarrels； and winds up with an explosion； if you please！ I
am just burning to get at Sophia； but I MUST do this Samoan
journalism … that's a cursed duty。 The first part of Sophia；
bar the first twenty or thirty pages； writes itself； the
second is more difficult； involving a good many characters …
about ten； I think … who have to be kept all moving； and give
the effect of a society。 I have three women to handle； out
and well…away！ but only Sophia is in full tone。 Sophia and
two men； Windermere； the Vanilla Planter； who dies at the end
of Part I。； and Rainsforth； who only appears in the beginning
of Part II。 The fact is； I blush to own it； but Sophia is a
REGULAR NOVEL； heroine and hero； and false accusation； and
love； and marriage； and all the rest of it … all planted in a
big South Sea plantation run by ex…English officers … A LA
Stewart's plantation in Tahiti。 There is a strong
undercurrent of labour trade； which gives it a kind of Uncle
Tom flavour； ABSIT OMEN！ The first start is hard； it is hard
to avoid a little tedium here； but I think by beginning with
the arrival of the three Miss Scarlets hot from school and
society in England； I may manage to slide in the information。
The problem is exactly a Balzac one； and I wish I had his
fist … for I have already a better method … the kinetic；
whereas he continually allowed himself to be led into the
static。 But then he had the fist； and the most I can hope is
to get out of it with a modicum of grace and energy； but for
sure without the strong impression； the full； dark brush。
Three people have had it； the real creator's brush： Scott；
see much of THE ANTIQUARY and THE HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN
（especially all round the trial； before； during； and after） …
Balzac … and Thackeray in VANITY FAIR。 Everybody else either
paints THIN； or has to stop to paint； or paints excitedly； so
that you see the author skipping before his canvas。 Here is
a long way from poor Sophia Scarlet！
This day is published
SOPHIA SCARLET
By
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
CHAPTER XVI
FEB。 1892。
MY DEAR COLVIN； … This has been a busyish month for a sick
man。 First； Faauma … the bronze candlestick； whom otherwise
I called my butler … bolted from the bed and bosom of
Lafaele； the Archangel Hercules； prefect of the cattle。
There was the deuce to pay； and Hercules was inconsolable；
and immediately started out after a new wife； and has had one
up on a visit； but says she has 'no conversation'； and I
think he will take back the erring and possibly repentant
candlestick； whom we all devoutly prefer； as she is not only
highly decorative； but good…natured； and if she does little
work makes no rows。 I tell this lightly； but it really was a
heavy business； many were accused of complicity； and Rafael
was really very sorry。 I had to hold beds of justice …
literally … seated in my bed and surrounded by lying Samoans
seated on the floor； and there were many picturesque and
still inexpl