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Letter from Meredith very kind。 Have you seen no more of
Graham？
What about my grandfather？ The family history will grow to
be quite a chapter。
I suppose I am growing sensitive； perhaps； by living among
barbarians； I expect more civility。 Look at this from the
author of a very interesting and laudatory critique。 He
gives quite a false description of something of mine； and
talks about my 'insolence。' Frankly； I supposed 'insolence'
to be a tapua word。 I do not use it to a gentleman； I would
not write it of a gentleman： I may be wrong； but I believe we
did not write it of a gentleman in old days； and in my view
he （clever fellow as he is） wants to be kicked for applying
it to me。 By writing a novel … even a bad one … I do not
make myself a criminal for anybody to insult。 This may amuse
you。 But either there is a change in journalism； too gradual
for you to remark it on the spot； or there is a change in me。
I cannot bear these phrases； I long to resent them。 My
forbears； the tenant farmers of the Mains； would not have
suffered such expressions unless it had been from Cauldwell；
or Rowallan； or maybe Auchendrane。 My Family Pride bristles。
I am like the negro； 'I just heard last night' who my great；
great； great； great grandfather was。 … Ever yours；
R。 L。 S。
CHAPTER XXXVIII
MARCH 1894。
MY DEAR COLVIN； … This is the very day the mail goes； and I
have as yet written you nothing。 But it was just as well …
as it was all about my 'blacks and chocolates；' and what of
it had relation to whites you will read some of in the TIMES。
It means； as you will see； that I have at one blow quarrelled
with all the officials of Samoa； the Foreign Office； and I
suppose her Majesty the Queen with milk and honey blest。 But
you'll see in the TIMES。 I am very well indeed； but just
about dead and mighty glad the mail is near here； and I can
just give up all hope of contending with my letters； and lie
down for the rest of the day。 These TIMES letters are not
easy to write。 And I dare say the Consuls say； 'Why； then；
does he write them？'
I had miserable luck with ST。 IVES； being already half…way
through it； a book I had ordered six months ago arrives at
last； and I have to change the first half of it from top to
bottom！ How could I have dreamed the French prisoners were
watched over like a female charity school； kept in a
grotesque livery； and shaved twice a week？ And I had made
all my points on the idea that they were unshaved and clothed
anyhow。 However； this last is better business； if only the
book had come when I ordered it！ A PROPOS； many of the books
you announce don't come as a matter of fact。 When they are
of any value； it is best to register them。 Your letter；
alas！ is not here； I sent it down to the cottage； with all my
mail； for Fanny； on Sunday night a boy comes up with a
lantern and a note from Fanny； to say the woods are full of
Atuas and I must bring a horse down that instant； as the
posts are established beyond her on the road； and she does
not want to have the fight going on between us。 Impossible
to get a horse； so I started in the dark on foot； with a
revolver； and my spurs on my bare feet； leaving directions
that the boy should mount after me with the horse。 Try such
an experience on Our Road once； and do it； if you please；
after you have been down town from nine o'clock till six； on
board the ship…of…war lunching； teaching Sunday School （I
actually do） and making necessary visits； and the Saturday
before； having sat all day from half past six to half…past
four； scriving at my TIMES letter。 About half…way up； just
in fact at 'point' of the outposts； I met Fanny coming up。
Then all night long I was being wakened with scares that
really should be looked into； though I KNEW there was nothing
in them and no bottom to the whole story； and the drums and
shouts and cries from Tanugamanono and the town keeping up an
all night corybantic chorus in the moonlight … the moon rose
late … and the search…light of the war…ship in the harbour
making a jewel of brightness as it lit up the bay of Apia in
the distance。 And then next morning； about eight o'clock； a
drum coming out of the woods and a party of patrols who had
been in the woods on our left front （which is our true rear）
coming up to the house； and meeting there another party who
had been in the woods on our right ｛ front / rear ｝ which is
Vaea Mountain； and 43 of them being entertained to ava and
biscuits on the verandah； and marching off at last in single
file for Apia。 Briefly； it is not much wonder if your letter
and my whole mail was left at the cottage； and I have no
means of seeing or answering particulars。
The whole thing was nothing but a bottomless scare； it was
OBVIOUSLY so； you couldn't make a child believe it was
anything else； but it has made the Consuls sit up。 My own
private scares were really abominably annoying； as for
instance after I had got to sleep for the ninth time perhaps
… and that was no easy matter either； for I had a crick in my
neck so agonising that I had to sleep sitting up … I heard
noises as of a man being murdered in the boys' house。 To be
sure； said I； this is nothing again； but if a man's head was
being taken； the noises would be the same！ So I had to get
up； stifle my cries of agony from the crick； get my revolver；
and creep out stealthily to the boys' house。 And there were
two of them sitting up； keeping watch of their own accord
like good boys； and whiling the time over a game of Sweepi
（Cascino … the whist of our islanders） … and one of them was
our champion idiot； Misifolo； and I suppose he was holding
bad cards； and losing all the time … and these noises were
his humorous protests against Fortune！
Well； excuse this excursion into my 'blacks and chocolates。'
It is the last。 You will have heard from Lysaght how I
failed to write last mail。 The said Lysaght seems to me a
very nice fellow。 We were only sorry he could not stay with
us longer。 Austin came back from school last week； which
made a great time for the Amanuensis； you may be sure。 Then
on Saturday； the CURACOA came in … same commission； with all
our old friends； and on Sunday； as already mentioned； Austin
and I went down to service and had lunch afterwards in the
wardroom。 The officers were awfully nice to Austin； they are
the most amiable ship in the world； and after lunch we had a
paper handed round on which we were to guess； and sign our
guess； of the number of leaves on the pine…apple； I never saw
this game before； but it seems it is much practised in the
Queen's Navee。 When all have betted； one of the party begins
to strip the pine…apple head； and the person whose guess is
furthest out has to pay for the sherry。 My equanimity was
disturbed