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CHAPTER VIII
APRIL 29TH； '91。
MY DEAR COLVIN； … I begin again。 I was awake this morning
about half…past four。 It was still night； but I made my
fire； which is always a delightful employment； and read
Lockhart's 'Scott' until the day began to peep。 It was a
beautiful and sober dawn； a dove…coloured dawn； insensibly
brightening to gold。 I was looking at it some while over the
down…hill profile of our eastern road； when I chanced to
glance northward； and saw with extraordinary pleasure the sea
lying outspread。 It seemed as smooth as glass； and yet I
knew the surf was roaring all along the reef； and indeed； if
I had listened； I could have heard it … and saw the white
sweep of it outside Matautu。
I am out of condition still； and can do nothing； and toil to
be at my pen； and see some ink behind me。 I have taken up
again THE HIGH WOODS OF ULUFANUA。 I still think the fable
too fantastic and far…fetched。 But； on a re…reading； fell in
love with my first chapter； and for good or evil I must
finish it。 It is really good； well fed with facts； true to
the manners； and （for once in my works） rendered pleasing by
the presence of a heroine who is pretty。 Miss Uma is pretty；
a fact。 All my other women have been as ugly as sin； and
like Falconet's horse （I have just been reading the anecdote
in Lockhart）； MORTES forbye。
News： Our old house is now half demolished； it is to be
rebuilt on a new site； now we look down upon and through the
open posts of it like a bird…cage； to the woods beyond。 My
poor Paulo has lost his father and succeeded to thirty
thousand thalers （I think）； he had to go down to the
Consulate yesterday to send a legal paper； got drunk； of
course； and is still this morning in so bemused a condition
that our breakfasts all went wrong。 Lafaele is absent at the
deathbed of his fair spouse； fair she was； but not in deed；
acting as harlot to the wreckers at work on the warships； to
which society she probably owes her end； having fallen off a
cliff； or been thrust off it …INTER POCULA。 Henry is the
same； our stand…by。 In this transition stage he has been
living in Apia； but the other night he stayed up； and sat
with us about the chimney in my room。 It was the first time
he had seen a fire in a hearth； he could not look at it
without smiles； and was always anxious to put on another
stick。 We entertained him with the fairy tales of
civilisation … theatres； London； blocks in the street；
Universities； the Underground； newspapers； etc。； and
projected once more his visit to Sydney。 If we can manage；
it will be next Christmas。 （I see it will be impossible for
me to afford a further journey THIS winter。） We have spent
since we have been here about 2500 pounds； which is not much
if you consider we have built on that three houses； one of
them of some size； and a considerable stable； made two miles
of road some three times； cleared many acres of bush； made
some miles of path； planted quantities of food； and enclosed
a horse paddock and some acres of pig run； but 'tis a good
deal of money regarded simply as money。 K。 is bosh； I have
no use for him； but we must do what we can with the fellow
meanwhile； he is good…humoured and honest； but inefficient；
idle himself； the cause of idleness in others； grumbling； a
self…excuser … all the faults in a bundle。 He owes us thirty
weeks' service … the wretched Paul about half as much。 Henry
is almost the only one of our employes who has a credit。
MAY 17TH。
Well； am I ashamed of myself？ I do not think so。 I have
been hammering Letters ever since； and got three ready and a
fourth about half through； all four will go by the mail；
which is what I wish； for so I keep at least my start。 Days
and days of unprofitable stubbing and digging； and the result
still poor as literature； left…handed； heavy； unillumined；
but I believe readable and interesting as matter。 It has
been no joke of a hard time； and when my task was done； I had
little taste for anything but blowing on the pipe。 A few
necessary letters filled the bowl to overflowing。
My mother has arrived； young； well； and in good spirits。 By
desperate exertions； which have wholly floored Fanny； her
room was ready for her； and the dining…room fit to eat in。
It was a famous victory。 Lloyd never told me of your
portrait till a few days ago； fortunately； I had no pictures
hung yet； and the space over my chimney waits your
counterfeit presentment。 I have not often heard anything
that pleased me more； your severe head shall frown upon me
and keep me to the mark。 But why has it not come？ Have you
been as forgetful as Lloyd？
18TH。
Miserable comforters are ye all！ I read your esteemed pages
this morning by lamplight and the glimmer of the dawn； and as
soon as breakfast was over； I must turn to and tackle these
despised labours！ Some courage was necessary； but not
wanting。 There is one thing at least by which I can avenge
myself for my drubbing； for on one point you seem
impenetrably stupid。 Can I find no form of words which will
at last convey to your intelligence the fact that THESE
LETTERS WERE NEVER MEANT； AND ARE NOT NOW MEANT； TO BE OTHER
THAN A QUARRY OF MATERIALS FROM WHICH THE BOOK MAY BE DRAWN？
There seems something incommunicable in this （to me） simple
idea； I know Lloyd failed to comprehend it； I doubt if he has
grasped it now； and I despair； after all these efforts； that
you should ever be enlightened。 Still； oblige me by reading
that form of words once more； and see if a light does not
break。 You may be sure； after the friendly freedoms of your
criticism （necessary I am sure； and wholesome I know； but
untimely to the poor labourer in his landslip） that mighty
little of it will stand。
Our Paul has come into a fortune； and wishes to go home to
the Hie Germanie。 This is a tile on our head； and if a
shower； which is now falling； lets up； I must go down to
Apia； and see if I can find a substitute of any kind。 This
is； from any point of view； disgusting； above all； from that
of work； for； whatever the result； the mill has to be kept
turning； apparently dust； and not flour； is the proceed。
Well； there is gold in the dust； which is a fine consolation；
since … well； I can't help it； night or morning； I do my
darndest； and if I cannot charge for merit； I must e'en
charge for toil； of which I have plenty and plenty more ahead
before this cup is drained； sweat and hyssop are the
ingredients。
We are clearing from Carruthers' Road to the pig fence；
twenty…eight powerful natives with Catholic medals about
their necks； all swiping in like Trojans； long may the sport
continue！
The invoice to hand。 Ere this goes out； I hope to see your
expressive； but surely not benignant countenance！ Adieu； O
culler of offensive expressions … 'and a' … to be a posy to
your ain dear May！' … Fanny seems a little revived again
after her spasm of work。 Our books and furniture keep slowly
draining up the road； in a sad state of scatterment and
disrepair； I wish the devil had had K。 by his red beard
before he had packed my library。 Odd leaves and sheets and
boards … a thing to make a bibliomaniac shed tears … are
fished out of odd corners。 But I am no bibliomaniac； praise
Heaven； and I bear up； and rejoice when I find anything safe。
19TH。
However； I worked five hours on the brute； and finished my
Letter all the same； and couldn't sleep last night by
consequence。 Haven't had a bad night since I don't know
when； dreamed a large； handsome man （a New Orleans planter）
had insulted my wife； and； do what I pleased； I could not
make him fight me； and woke to find it was the eleventh
anniversary of my marriage。 A letter usually takes me from a
week to three days； but I'm sometimes two days on a page … I
was once three … and then my friends kick me。 C'EST…Y…BETE！
I wish letters of that charming quality could be so timed as
to arrive when a fellow wasn't working at the truck in
question； but； of course； that can't be。 Did not go down
last night。 It showered all afternoon； and poured heavy and
loud all night。
You should have seen our twenty…five popes （the Samoan phrase
for a Catholic； lay or cleric） squatting when the day's work
was done on the ground outside the verandah； and pouring in
the rays of forty…eight eyes through the back and the front
door of the dining…room； while Henry and I and the boss pope
signed the contract。 The second boss （an old man） wore a
kilt （as usual） and a Balmoral bonnet with a little tartan
edging and the tails pulled off。 I told him that hat belong
to my country … Sekotia； and he said； yes； that was the place
that he belonged to right enough。 And then