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shilling； and to descend a road through the forest that was
at that moment the image of a respectable mountain brook。 My
wife； who is president WITH POWER TO EXPEL； had to begin her
functions。 。 。 。
25TH MARCH。
Heaven knows what day it is； but I am ashamed； all the more
as your letter from Bournemouth of all places … poor old
Bournemouth！ … is to hand； and contains a statement of
pleasure in my letters which I wish I could have rewarded
with a long one。 What has gone on？ A vast of affairs； of a
mingled； strenuous； inconclusive； desultory character； much
waste of time； much riding to and fro； and little transacted
or at least peracted。
Let me give you a review of the present state of our live
stock。 … Six boys in the bush； six souls about the house。
Talolo； the cook； returns again to…day； after an absence
which has cost me about twelve hours of riding； and I suppose
eight hours' solemn sitting in council。 'I am sorry indeed
for the Chief Justice of Samoa；' I said； 'it is more than I
am fit for to be Chief Justice of Vailima。' … Lauilo is
steward。 Both these are excellent servants； we gave a
luncheon party when we buried the Samoan bones； and I assure
you all was in good style； yet we never interfered。 The food
was good； the wine and dishes went round as by mechanism。 …
Steward's assistant and washman Arrick； a New Hebridee black
boy； hired from the German firm； not so ugly as most； but not
pretty neither； not so dull as his sort are； but not quite a
Crichton。 When he came first； he ate so much of our good
food that he got a prominent belly。 Kitchen assistant； Tomas
（Thomas in English）； a Fiji man； very tall and handsome；
moving like a marionette with sudden bounds； and rolling his
eyes with sudden effort。 … Washerwoman and precentor； Helen；
Tomas's wife。 This is our weak point； we are ashamed of
Helen； the cook…house blushes for her； they murmur there at
her presence。 She seems all right； she is not a bad…looking；
strapping wench； seems chaste； is industrious； has an
excellent taste in hymns … you should have heard her read one
aloud the other day； she marked the rhythm with so much
gloating； dissenter sentiment。 What is wrong； then？ says
you。 Low in your ear … and don't let the papers get hold of
it … she is of no family。 None； they say； literally a common
woman。 Of course； we have out…islanders； who MAY be
villeins； but we give them the benefit of the doubt； which is
impossible with Helen of Vailima； our blot； our pitted speck。
The pitted speck I have said is our precentor。 It is always
a woman who starts Samoan song； the men who sing second do
not enter for a bar or two。 Poor； dear Faauma； the unchaste；
the extruded Eve of our Paradise； knew only two hymns； but
Helen seems to know the whole repertory； and the morning
prayers go far more lively in consequence。 … Lafaele； provost
of the cattle。 The cattle are Jack； my horse； quite
converted； my wife rides him now； and he is as steady as a
doctor's cob； Tifaga Jack； a circus horse； my mother's
piebald； bought from a passing circus； Belle's mare； now in
childbed or next door； confound the slut！ Musu … amusingly
translated the other day 'don't want to；' literally cross；
but always in the sense of stubbornness and resistance … my
wife's little dark…brown mare； with a white star on her
forehead； whom I have been riding of late to steady her … she
has no vices； but is unused； skittish and uneasy； and wants a
lot of attention and humouring； lastly （of saddle horses）
Luna … not the Latin MOON； the Hawaiian OVERSEER； but it's
pronounced the same … a pretty little mare too； but scarce at
all broken； a bad bucker； and has to be ridden with a stock…
whip and be brought back with her rump criss…crossed like a
clan tartan； the two cart horses； now only used with pack…
saddles； two cows； one in the straw （I trust） to…morrow； a
third cow； the Jersey … whose milk and temper are alike
subjects of admiration … she gives good exercise to the
farming saunterer； and refreshes him on his return with
cream； two calves； a bull； and a cow； God knows how many
ducks and chickens； and for a wager not even God knows how
many cats； twelve horses； seven horses； five kine： is not
this Babylon the Great which I have builded？ Call it
SUBPRIORSFORD。
Two nights ago the club had its first meeting； only twelve
were present； but it went very well。 I was not there； I had
ridden down the night before after dinner on my endless
business； took a cup of tea in the Mission like an ass； then
took a cup of coffee like a fool at Haggard's； then fell into
a discussion with the American Consul 。 。 。 I went to bed at
Haggard's； came suddenly broad awake； and lay sleepless the
live night。 It fell chill； I had only a sheet； and had to
make a light and range the house for a cover … I found one in
the hall； a macintosh。 So back to my sleepless bed； and to
lie there till dawn。 In the morning I had a longish ride to
take in a day of a blinding； staggering sun； and got home by
eleven； our luncheon hour； with my head rather swimmy； the
only time I have FEARED the sun since I was in Samoa。
However； I got no harm； but did not go to the club； lay off；
lazied； played the pipe； and read … a novel by James Payn …
sometimes quite interesting； and in one place really very
funny with the quaint humour of the man。 Much interested the
other day。 As I rode past a house； I saw where a Samoan had
written a word on a board； and there was an A； perfectly
formed； but upside down。 You never saw such a thing in
Europe； but it is as common as dirt in Polynesia。 Men's
names are tattooed on the forearm； it is common to find a
subverted letter tattooed there。 Here is a tempting problem
for psychologists。
I am now on terms again with the German Consulate； I know not
for how long； not； of course； with the President； which I
find a relief； still； with the Chief Justice and the English
Consul。 For Haggard； I have a genuine affection； he is a
loveable man。
Wearyful man！ 'Here is the yarn of Loudon Dodd； NOT AS HE
TOLD IT； BUT AS IT WAS AFTERWARDS WRITTEN。' These words were
left out by some carelessness； and I think I have been thrice
tackled about them。 Grave them in your mind and wear them on
your forehead。
The Lang story will have very little about the treasure； THE
MASTER will appear； and it is to a great extent a tale of
Prince Charlie AFTER the '45； and a love story forbye： the
hero is a melancholy exile； and marries a young woman who
interests the prince； and there is the devil to pay。 I think
the Master kills him in a duel； but don't know yet； not
having yet seen my second heroine。 No … the Master doesn't
kill him； they fight； he is wounded； and the Master plays
DEUS EX MACHINA。 I THINK just now of calling it THE TAIL OF
THE RA