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the neck in prose； and just now in the 'dark INTERSTYLAR cave；' all
methods and effects wooing me； myself in the midst impotent to
follow any。 I look for dawn presently； and a full flowing river of
expression； running whither it wills。 But these useless seasons；
above all； when a man MUST continue to spoil paper； are infinitely
weary。
We are in our house after a fashion； without furniture； 'tis true；
camping there； like the family after a sale。 But the bailiff has
not yet appeared； he will probably come after。 The place is
beautiful beyond dreams； some fifty miles of the Pacific spread in
front； deep woods all round； a mountain making in the sky a profile
of huge trees upon our left； about us； the little island of our
clearing； studded with brave old gentlemen （or ladies； or 'the twa
o' them'） whom we have spared。 It is a good place to be in； night
and morning； we have Theodore Rousseaus （always a new one） hung to
amuse us on the walls of the world； and the moon … this is our good
season； we have a moon just now … makes the night a piece of
heaven。 It amazes me how people can live on in the dirty north；
yet if you saw our rainy season （which is really a caulker for
wind； wet； and darkness … howling showers； roaring winds； pit…
blackness at noon） you might marvel how we could endure that。 And
we can't。 But there's a winter everywhere； only ours is in the
summer。 Mark my words： there will be a winter in heaven … and in
hell。 CELA RENTRE DANS LES PROCEDES DU BON DIEU； ET VOUS VERREZ！
There's another very good thing about Vailima； I am away from the
little bubble of the literary life。 It is not all beer and
skittles； is it？ By the by； my BALLADS seem to have been dam bad；
all the crickets sing so in their crickety papers； and I have no
ghost of an idea on the point myself： verse is always to me the
unknowable。 You might tell me how it strikes a professional bard：
not that it really matters； for； of course； good or bad； I don't
think I shall get into THAT galley any more。 But I should like to
know if you join the shrill chorus of the crickets。 The crickets
are the devil in all to you： 'tis a strange thing； they seem to
rejoice like a strong man in their injustice。 I trust you got my
letter about your Browning book。 In case it missed； I wish to say
again that your publication of Browning's kind letter； as an
illustration of HIS character； was modest； proper； and in radiant
good taste。 … In Witness whereof； etc。； etc。；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Letter： TO MISS RAWLINSON
VAILIMA； APIA； SAMOA； APRIL 1891。
MY DEAR MAY； … I never think of you by any more ceremonial name； so
I will not pretend。 There is not much chance that I shall forget
you until the time comes for me to forget all this little turmoil
in a corner （though indeed I have been in several corners） of an
inconsiderable planet。 You remain in my mind for a good reason；
having given me （in so short a time） the most delightful pleasure。
I shall remember； and you must still be beautiful。 The truth is；
you must grow more so； or you will soon be less。 It is not so easy
to be a flower； even when you bear a flower's name。 And if I
admired you so much； and still remember you； it is not because of
your face； but because you were then worthy of it； as you must
still continue。
Will you give my heartiest congratulations to Mr。 S。？ He has my
admiration； he is a brave man； when I was young； I should have run
away from the sight of you； pierced with the sense of my unfitness。
He is more wise and manly。 What a good husband he will have to be！
And you … what a good wife！ Carry your love tenderly。 I will
never forgive him … or you … it is in both your hands … if the face
that once gladdened my heart should be changed into one sour or
sorrowful。
What a person you are to give flowers！ It was so I first heard of
you； and now you are giving the May flower！
Yes； Skerryvore has passed； it was； for us。 But I wish you could
see us in our new home on the mountain； in the middle of great
woods； and looking far out over the Pacific。 When Mr。 S。 is very
rich； he must bring you round the world and let you see it； and see
the old gentleman and the old lady。 I mean to live quite a long
while yet； and my wife must do the same； or else I couldn't manage
it； so； you see； you will have plenty of time； and it's a pity not
to see the most beautiful places； and the most beautiful people
moving there； and the real stars and moon overhead； instead of the
tin imitations that preside over London。 I do not think my wife
very well； but I am in hopes she will now have a little rest。 It
has been a hard business； above all for her； we lived four months
in the hurricane season in a miserable house； overborne with work；
ill…fed； continually worried； drowned in perpetual rain； beaten
upon by wind； so that we must sit in the dark in the evenings； and
then I ran away； and she had a month of it alone。 Things go better
now； the back of the work is broken； and we are still foolish
enough to look forward to a little peace。 I am a very different
person from the prisoner of Skerryvore。 The other day I was three…
and…twenty hours in an open boat； it made me pretty ill； but fancy
its not killing me half…way！ It is like a fairy story that I
should have recovered liberty and strength； and should go round
again among my fellow…men； boating； riding； bathing； toiling hard
with a wood…knife in the forest。 I can wish you nothing more
delightful than my fortune in life； I wish it you； and better； if
the thing be possible。
Lloyd is tinkling below me on the typewriter； my wife has just left
the room； she asks me to say she would have written had she been
well enough； and hopes to do it still。 … Accept the best wishes of
your admirer；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Letter： TO MISS ADELAIDE BOODLE
＇VAILIMA； MAY 1891。＇
MY DEAR ADELAIDE； … I will own you just did manage to tread on my
gouty toe； and I beg to assure you with most people I should simply
have turned away and said no more。 My cudgelling was therefore in
the nature of a caress or testimonial。
God forbid； I should seem to judge for you on such a point； it was
what you seemed to set forth as your reasons that fluttered my old
Presbyterian spirit … for； mind you； I am a child of the
Covenanters … whom I do not love； but they are mine after all； my
father's and my mother's … and they had their merits too； and their
ugly beauties； and grotesque heroisms； that I love them for； the
while I laugh at them； but in their name and mine do what you think
right； and let the world fall。 That is the privilege and the duty
of private persons； and I shall think the more of you at the
greater distance； because you keep a promise to your fellow…man；
your helper and creditor in life； by just so much as I was tempted
to think the less of you （O not much； or I would never have been
angry） when I thought you were the swallower of a （tinfoil）
formula。
I must say I was uneasy about my letter； not because it was too
strong as an expression of my unregenerate sentiments； but because
I knew full well it should be followed by something kinder。 And
the mischief has been in my health。 I fell sharply sick in Sydney；
was put aboard the LUBECK pretty bad； got to Vailima； hung on a
month there； and didn't pick up as well as my work needed； set off
on a journey； gained a great deal； lost it again； and am back at
Vailima； still no good at my necessary work。 I tell you this for
my imperfect excuse that I should not have written you again sooner
to remove the bad taste of my last。
A road has been called Adelaide Road； it leads from the back of our
house to the bridge； and thence to the garden； and by a bifurcation
to t