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nothing happened beyond Fanny's nerves being a good deal
shattered； of course； she could not tell what had happened to
us until she got her horse mastered。
Next day； Haggard went off to the Commission and left us in
charge of his house； all our people came down in wreaths of
flowers； we had a boat for them； Haggard had a flag in the
Commission boat for us； and when at last the steamer turned
up； the young adventurer was carried on board in great style；
with a new watch and chain； and about three pound ten of
tips； and five big baskets of fruit as free…will offerings to
the captain。 Captain Morse had us all to lunch； champagne
flowed； so did compliments； and I did the affable celebrity
life…sized。 It made a great send…off for the young
adventurer。 As the boat drew off； he was standing at the
head of the gangway； supported by three handsome ladies … one
of them a real full…blown beauty； Madame Green； the singer …
and looking very engaging himself； between smiles and tears。
Not that he cried in public。
My； but we were a tired crowd！ However； it is always a
blessing to get home； and this time it was a sort of wonder
to ourselves that we got back alive。 Casualties： Fanny's
back jarred； horse incident； Belle； bad headache； tears and
champagne； self； idiocy； champagne； fatigue； Lloyd； ditto；
ditto。 As for the adventurer； I believe he will have a
delightful voyage for his little start in life。 But there is
always something touching in a mite's first launch。
DATE UNKNOWN。
I am now well on with the third part of the DEBACLE。 The two
first I liked much； the second completely knocking me； so far
as it has gone； this third part appears the ramblings of a
dull man who has forgotten what he has to say … he reminds me
of an M。P。 But Sedan was really great； and I will pick no
holes。 The batteries under fire； the red…cross folk； the
county charge … perhaps； above all； Major Bouroche and the
operations； all beyond discussion； and every word about the
Emperor splendid。
SEPTEMBER 30TH。
David Balfour done； and its author along with it； or nearly
so。 Strange to think of even our doctor here repeating his
nonsense about debilitating climate。 Why； the work I have
been doing the last twelve months； in one continuous spate；
mostly with annoying interruptions and without any collapse
to mention； would be incredible in Norway。 But I HAVE broken
down now； and will do nothing as long as I possibly can。
With David Balfour I am very well pleased； in fact these
labours of the last year … I mean FALESA AND D。 B。； not
Samoa； of course … seem to me to be nearer what I mean than
anything I have ever done； nearer what I mean by fiction； the
nearest thing before was KIDNAPPED。 I am not forgetting the
MASTER OF BALLANTRAE； but that lacked all pleasurableness；
and hence was imperfect in essence。 So you see； if I am a
little tired； I do not repent。
The third part of the DEBACLE may be all very fine； but I
cannot read it。 It suffers from IMPAIRED VITALITY； and
UNCERTAIN AIM； two deadly sicknesses。 Vital … that's what I
am at； first： wholly vital； with a buoyancy of life。 Then
lyrical； if it may be； and picturesque； always with an epic
value of scenes； so that the figures remain in the mind's eye
for ever。
OCTOBER 8TH。
Suppose you sent us some of the catalogues of the parties
what vends statutes？ I don't want colossal Herculeses； but
about quarter size and less。 If the catalogues were
illustrated it would probably be found a help to weak
memories。 These may be found to alleviate spare moments；
when we sometimes amuse ourselves by thinking how fine we
shall make the palace if we do not go pop。 Perhaps in the
same way it might amuse you to send us any pattern of wall
paper that might strike you as cheap； pretty and suitable for
a room in a hot and extremely bright climate。 It should be
borne in mind that our climate can be extremely dark too。
Our sitting…room is to be in varnished wood。 The room I have
particularly in mind is a sort of bed and sitting…room；
pretty large； lit on three sides； and the colour in favour of
its proprietor at present is a topazy yellow。 But then with
what colour to relieve it？ For a little work…room of my own
at the back。 I should rather like to see some patterns of
unglossy … well； I'll be hanged if I can describe this red …
it's not Turkish and it's not Roman and it's not Indian； but
it seems to partake of the two last； and yet it can't be
either of them； because it ought to be able to go with
vermilion。 Ah； what a tangled web we weave … anyway； with
what brains you have left choose me and send me some … many …
patterns of this exact shade。
A few days ago it was Haggard's birthday and we had him and
his cousin to dinner … bless me if I ever told you of his
cousin！ … he is here anyway； and a fine； pleasing specimen；
so that we have concluded （after our own happy experience）
that the climate of Samoa must be favourable to cousins。
Then we went out on the verandah in a lovely moonlight；
drinking port； hearing the cousin play and sing； till
presently we were informed that our boys had got up a siva in
Lafaele's house to which we were invited。 It was entirely
their own idea。 The house； you must understand； is one…half
floored； and one…half bare earth； and the dais stands a
little over knee high above the level of the soil。 The dais
was the stage； with three footlights。 We audience sat on
mats on the floor； and the cook and three of our work…boys；
sometimes assisted by our two ladies； took their places
behind the footlights and began a topical Vailima song。 The
burden was of course that of a Samoan popular song about a
white man who objects to all that he sees in Samoa。 And
there was of course a special verse for each one of the party
… Lloyd was called the dancing man （practically the Chief's
handsome son） of Vailima； he was also； in his character I
suppose of overseer； compared to a policeman … Belle had that
day been the almoner in a semi…comic distribution of wedding
rings and thimbles （bought cheap at an auction） to the whole
plantation company； fitting a ring on every man's finger； and
a ring and a thimble on both the women's。 This was very much
in character with her native name TEUILA； the adorner of the
ugly … so of course this was the point of her verse and at a
given moment all the performers displayed the rings upon
their fingers。 Pelema （the cousin … OUR cousin） was
described as watching from the house and whenever he saw any
boy not doing anything； running and doing it himself。
Fanny's verse was less intelligible； but it was accompanied
in the dance with a pantomime of terror well…fitted to call
up her haunting； indefatigable and diminutive presence in a
blue gown。