together； we might produce a fine book。 The Rhone is the river of
Angels。 I adore it： have adored it since I was twelve； and first
saw it from the train。
Lastly； it would depend on how I keep from now on。 I have stood
the winter hitherto with some credit； but the dreadful weather
still continues； and I cannot holloa till I am through the wood。
Subject to these numerous and gloomy provisos； I embrace the
prospect with glorious feelings。
I write this from bed； snow pouring without； and no circumstance of
pleasure except your letter。 That； however； counts for much。 I am
glad you liked the doggerel： I have already had a liberal cheque；
over which I licked my fingers with a sound conscience。 I had not
meant to make money by these stumbling feet； but if it comes； it is
only too welcome in my handsome but impecunious house。
Let me know soon what is to be expected … as far as it does not
hang by that inconstant quantity； my want of health。 Remember me
to Madam with the best thanks and wishes； and believe me your
friend；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Letter： TO MRS。 FLEEMING JENKIN
＇SKERRYVORE； BOURNEMOUTH； APRIL 1886。＇
MY DEAR MRS。 JENKIN； … I try to tell myself it is good nature； but
I know it is vanity that makes me write。
I have drafted the first part of Chapter VI。； Fleeming and his
friends； his influence on me； his views on religion and literature；
his part at the Savile； it should boil down to about ten pages； and
I really do think it admirably good。 It has so much evoked
Fleeming for myself that I found my conscience stirred just as it
used to be after a serious talk with him： surely that means it is
good？ I had to write and tell you； being alone。
I have excellent news of Fanny； who is much better for the change。
My father is still very yellow； and very old； and very weak； but
yesterday he seemed happier； and smiled； and followed what was
said； even laughed； I think。 When he came away； he said to me；
'Take care of yourself； my dearie；' which had a strange sound of
childish days； and will not leave my mind。
You must get Litolf's GAVOTTES CELEBRES： I have made another
trover there： a musette of Lully's。 The second part of it I have
not yet got the hang of； but the first … only a few bars！ The
gavotte is beautiful and pretty hard； I think； and very much of the
period； and at the end of it； this musette enters with the most
really thrilling effect of simple beauty。 O … it's first…rate。 I
am quite mad over it。 If you find other books containing Lully；
Rameau； Martini； please let me know； also you might tell me； you
who know Bach； where the easiest is to be found。 I write all
morning； come down； and never leave the piano till about five；
write letters； dine； get down again about eight； and never leave
the piano till I go to bed。 This is a fine life。 … Yours most
sincerely；
R。 L。 S。
If you get the musette （Lully's）； please tell me if I am right； and
it was probably written for strings。 Anyway； it is as neat as … as
neat as Bach … on the piano； or seems so to my ignorance。
I play much of the Rigadoon but it is strange； it don't come off
QUITE so well with me！
＇Musical score which cannot be reproduced＇
There is the first part of the musette copied （from memory； so I
hope there's nothing wrong）。 Is it not angelic？ But it ought； of
course； to have the gavotte before。 The gavotte is in G； and ends
on the keynote thus （if I remember）：…
＇Musical score which cannot be reproduced＇
staccato； I think。 Then you sail into the musette。
N。B。 … Where I have put an 'A；' is that a dominant eleventh； or
what？ or just a seventh on the D？ and if the latter； is that
allowed？ It sounds very funny。 Never mind all my questions； if I
begin about music （which is my leading ignorance and curiosity）； I
have always to babble questions： all my friends know me now； and
take no notice whatever。 The whole piece is marked allegro； but
surely could easily be played too fast？ The dignity must not be
lost； the periwig feeling。
Letter： TO THOMAS STEVENSON
＇SKERRYVORE； BOURNEMOUTH； March 1886。＇
MY DEAR FATHER； … The David problem has to…day been decided。 I am
to leave the door open for a sequel if the public take to it； and
this will save me from butchering a lot of good material to no
purpose。 Your letter from Carlisle was pretty like yourself； sir；
as I was pleased to see； the hand of Jekyll； not the hand of Hyde。
I am for action quite unfit； and even a letter is beyond me； so
pray take these scraps at a vast deal more than their intrinsic
worth。 I am in great spirits about David； Colvin agreeing with
Henley； Fanny； and myself in thinking it far the most human of my
labours hitherto。 As to whether the long…eared British public may
take to it； all think it more than doubtful； I wish they would； for
I could do a second volume with ease and pleasure； and Colvin
thinks it sin and folly to throw away David and Alan Breck upon so
small a field as this one。 … Ever your affectionate son；
R。 L。 S。
Letter： TO MRS。 FLEEMING JENKIN
＇SKERRYVORE； BOURNEMOUTH＇； APRIL 15 OR 16 （THE HOUR NOT BEING
KNOWN）； 1886。
MY DEAR MRS。 JENKIN； … It is I know not what hour of the night； but
I cannot sleep； have lit the gas； and here goes。
First； all your packet arrived： I have dipped into the Schumann
already with great pleasure。 Surely； in what concerns us there is
a sweet little chirrup； the GOOD WORDS arrived in the morning just
when I needed it； and the famous notes that I had lost were
recovered also in the nick of time。
And now I am going to bother you with my affairs： premising；
first； that this is PRIVATE； second； that whatever I do the LIFE
shall be done first； and I am getting on with it well； and third；
that I do not quite know why I consult you； but something tells me
you will hear with fairness。
Here is my problem。 The Curtin women are still miserable
prisoners； no one dare buy their farm of them； all the manhood of
England and the world stands aghast before a threat of murder。 （1）
Now； my work can be done anywhere； hence I can take up without loss
a back…going Irish farm； and live on； though not （as I had
originally written） in it： First Reason。 （2） If I should be
killed； there are a good many who would feel it： writers are so
much in the public eye； that a writer being murdered would attract
attention； throw a bull's…eye light upon this cowardly business：
Second Reason。 （3） I am not unknown in the States； from which the
funds come that pay for these brutalities： to some faint extent；
my death （if I should be killed） would tell there： Third Reason。
（4） NOBODY ELSE IS TAKING UP THIS OBVIOUS AND CRYING DULY： Fourth
Reason。 （5） I have a crazy health and may die at any moment； my
life is of no purchase in an insurance office； it is the less
account to husband it； and the business of husbanding a life is
dreary and demoralising： Fifth Reason。
I state these in no order； but as they occur to me。 And I shall do
the like with the objections。
First Objection： It will do no good； you have seen Gordon die and
nobody minded； nobody will mind if you die。 This is plainly of the
devil。 Second Objection： You will not even be murdered； the
climate will miserably kill you； you will strangle out in a rotten
damp heat； in congestion； etc。 Well； what then？ It changes
nothing： the purpose is to brave crime； let me brave it； for such
time and to such an extent as God allows。 Third Objection： The
Curtin women are probably highly uninteresting females。 I haven't
a doubt of it。 But the Government cannot； men will not； protect
them。 If I am the only one to see this public duty； it is to the
public and the Right I should perform it … not to Mesdames Curtin。
Fourth Objection： I am married。 'I have married a wife！' I seem
to have heard it before。 It smells ancient！ what was the context？
Fifth Objection： My wife has had a mean life （1）； loves me （2）；
could not bear to lose me （3）。 （1） I admit： I am sorry。 （2） But
what does she love me for？ and （3） she must lose me soon or late。
And after all； because we run this risk； it does not follow we
should fail。 Sixth Objection： My wife wouldn't like it。 No； she
wouldn't。 Who would？ But the Curtins don't like it。 And all
those who are to suffer if this goes on； won't like it。 And if
there is a great wrong； somebody must suffer。 Seventh Objection：
I won't like it。 No； I will not； I have thought it through； and I
will not。 But what of that？ And both she and I may like it more
than we suppose。 We shall lose friends； all comforts； all society：
so has everybody who has ever done anything； but we shall have some
excitement； and that's a fine thing； and we shall be trying to do
the right； and that's not to be despised。 Eighth Objection： I am
an author with my work before me。 See Second Reason。 Ninth
Objection： But am I not taken with the hope of excitement？ I was
at first。 I am not much now。 I see what a dreary； friendless；
miserable； God…forgotten business it will be。 And anyway； is not
excitement the proper reward of doing anything both right and a
little dangerous？ Tenth Objection： But am I not taken with a
notion of glory？ I dare say I am。 Yet I see quite clearly how all
points to nothing coming； to a quite inglorious death by disease
and from the lack of attendance； or even if I should be knocked on
the head； as these poor Irish promise； how little any one will
care。 It will be a smile at a thousand breakfast…tables。 I am
nearly forty now； I have not many illusions。 And if I had？ I do
not love this health…tending； housekeeping