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days at sea with a cargo of hay； matches； stallions； and monkeys；
and in a ship with no style on； and plenty of sailors to talk to；
and the endless pleasures of the sea … the romance of it； the sport
of the scratch dinner and the smashing crockery； the pleasure … an
endless pleasure … of balancing to the swell： well； it's over。
SECOND； I had a fine time； rather a troubled one； at Newport and
New York； saw much of and liked hugely the Fairchilds； St。 Gaudens
the sculptor； Gilder of the CENTURY … just saw the dear Alexander …
saw a lot of my old and admirable friend Will Low； whom I wish you
knew and appreciated … was medallioned by St。 Gaudens； and at last
escaped to
THIRD； Saranac Lake； where we now are； and which I believe we mean
to like and pass the winter at。 Our house … emphatically 'Baker's'
… is on a hill； and has a sight of a stream turning a corner in the
valley … bless the face of running water！ … and sees some hills
too； and the paganly prosaic roofs of Saranac itself； the Lake it
does not see； nor do I regret that； I like water （fresh water I
mean） either running swiftly among stones； or else largely
qualified with whisky。 As I write； the sun （which has been long a
stranger） shines in at my shoulder； from the next room； the bell of
Lloyd's typewriter makes an agreeable music as it patters off （at a
rate which astonishes this experienced novelist） the early chapters
of a humorous romance； from still further off … the walls of
Baker's are neither ancient nor massive … rumours of Valentine
about the kitchen stove come to my ears； of my mother and Fanny I
hear nothing； for the excellent reason that they have gone sparking
off； one to Niagara； one to Indianapolis。 People complain that I
never give news in my letters。 I have wiped out that reproach。
But now； FOURTH； I have seen the article； and it may be from
natural partiality； I think it the best you have written。 O … I
remember the Gautier； which was an excellent performance； and the
Balzac； which was good； and the Daudet； over which I licked my
chops； but the R。 L。 S。 is better yet。 It is so humorous； and it
hits my little frailties with so neat （and so friendly） a touch；
and Alan is the occasion for so much happy talk； and the quarrel is
so generously praised。 I read it twice； though it was only some
hours in my possession； and Low； who got it for me from the
CENTURY； sat up to finish it ere he returned it； and； sir； we were
all delighted。 Here is the paper out； nor will anything； not even
friendship； not even gratitude for the article； induce me to begin
a second sheet； so here with the kindest remembrances and the
warmest good wishes； I remain； yours affectionately；
R。 L。 S。
Letter： TO CHARLES BAXTER
SARANAC； 18TH NOVEMBER 1887。
MY DEAR CHARLES； … No likely I'm going to waste a sheet of paper。 。
。 。 I am offered 1600 pounds （8000） for the American serial
rights on my next story！ As you say； times are changed since the
Lothian Road。 Well； the Lothian Road was grand fun too； I could
take an afternoon of it with great delight。 But I'm awfu' grand
noo； and long may it last！
Remember me to any of the faithful … if there are any left。 I wish
I could have a crack with you。 … Yours ever affectionately；
R。 L。 S。
I find I have forgotten more than I remembered of business。 。 。 。
Please let us know （if you know） for how much Skerryvore is let；
you will here detect the female mind； I let it for what I could
get； nor shall the possession of this knowledge （which I am happy
to have forgot） increase the amount by so much as the shadow of a
sixpenny piece； but my females are agog。 … Yours ever；
R。 L。 S。
Letter： TO CHARLES SCRIBNER
＇SARANAC； NOVEMBER 20 OR 21； 1887。＇
MY DEAR MR。 SCRIBNER； … Heaven help me； I am under a curse just
now。 I have played fast and loose with what I said to you； and
that； I beg you to believe； in the purest innocence of mind。 I
told you you should have the power over all my work in this
country； and about a fortnight ago； when M'Clure was here； I calmly
signed a bargain for the serial publication of a story。 You will
scarce believe that I did this in mere oblivion； but I did； and all
that I can say is that I will do so no more； and ask you to forgive
me。 Please write to me soon as to this。
Will you oblige me by paying in for three articles； as already
sent； to my account with John Paton & Co。； 52 William Street？ This
will be most convenient for us。
The fourth article is nearly done； and I am the more deceived； or
it is A BUSTER。
Now as to the first thing in this letter； I do wish to hear from
you soon； and I am prepared to hear any reproach； or （what is
harder to hear） any forgiveness； for I have deserved the worst。 …
Yours sincerely；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Letter： TO E。 L。 BURLINGAME
SARANAC； NOVEMBER 1887。
DEAR MR。 BURLINGAME； … I enclose corrected proof of BEGGARS； which
seems good。 I mean to make a second sermon； which； if it is about
the same length as PULVIS ET UMBRA； might go in along with it as
two sermons； in which case I should call the first 'The Whole
Creation；' and the second 'Any Good。' We shall see； but you might
say how you like the notion。
One word： if you have heard from Mr。 Scribner of my unhappy
oversight in the matter of a story； you will make me ashamed to
write to you； and yet I wish to beg you to help me into quieter
waters。 The oversight committed … and I do think it was not so bad
as Mr。 Scribner seems to think it…and discovered； I was in a
miserable position。 I need not tell you that my first impulse was
to offer to share or to surrender the price agreed upon when it
should fall due； and it is almost to my credit that I arranged to
refrain。 It is one of these positions from which there is no
escape； I cannot undo what I have done。 And I wish to beg you …
should Mr。 Scribner speak to you in the matter … to try to get him
to see this neglect of mine for no worse than it is： unpardonable
enough； because a breach of an agreement； but still pardonable；
because a piece of sheer carelessness and want of memory； done； God
knows； without design and since most sincerely regretted。 I have
no memory。 You have seen how I omitted to reserve the American
rights in JEKYLL： last winter I wrote and demanded； as an
increase； a less sum than had already been agreed upon for a story
that I gave to Cassell's。 For once that my forgetfulness has； by a
cursed fortune； seemed to gain； instead of lose； me money； it is
painful indeed that I should produce so poor an impression on the
mind of Mr。 Scribner。 But I beg you to believe； and if possible to
make him believe； that I am in no degree or sense a FAISEUR； and
that in matters of business my design； at least； is honest。 Nor
（bating bad memory and self…deception） am I untruthful in such
affairs。
If Mr。 Scribner shall have said nothing to you in the matter；
please regard the above as unwritten； and believe me； yours very
truly；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Letter： TO E。 L。 BURLINGAME
SARANAC； NOVEMBER 1887。
DEAR MR。 BURLINGAME； … The revise seemed all right； so I did not
trouble you with it； indeed； my demand for one was theatrical； to
impress that obdurate dog； your reader。 Herewith a third paper：
it has been a cruel long time upon the road； but here it is； and
not bad at last； I fondly hope。 I was glad you liked the LANTERN
BEARERS； I did； too。 I thought it was a good paper； really
contained some excellent sense； and was ingeniously put together。
I have not often had more trouble than I have with these papers；
thirty or forty pages of foul copy； twenty is the very least I have
had。 Well； you pay high； it is fit tha