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Tom flavour； ABSIT OMEN！ The first start is hard； it is hard
to avoid a little tedium here； but I think by beginning with
the arrival of the three Miss Scarlets hot from school and
society in England； I may manage to slide in the information。
The problem is exactly a Balzac one； and I wish I had his
fist … for I have already a better method … the kinetic；
whereas he continually allowed himself to be led into the
static。 But then he had the fist； and the most I can hope is
to get out of it with a modicum of grace and energy； but for
sure without the strong impression； the full； dark brush。
Three people have had it； the real creator's brush： Scott；
see much of THE ANTIQUARY and THE HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN
（especially all round the trial； before； during； and after） …
Balzac … and Thackeray in VANITY FAIR。 Everybody else either
paints THIN； or has to stop to paint； or paints excitedly； so
that you see the author skipping before his canvas。 Here is
a long way from poor Sophia Scarlet！
This day is published
SOPHIA SCARLET
By
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
CHAPTER XVI
FEB。 1892。
MY DEAR COLVIN； … This has been a busyish month for a sick
man。 First； Faauma … the bronze candlestick； whom otherwise
I called my butler … bolted from the bed and bosom of
Lafaele； the Archangel Hercules； prefect of the cattle。
There was the deuce to pay； and Hercules was inconsolable；
and immediately started out after a new wife； and has had one
up on a visit； but says she has 'no conversation'； and I
think he will take back the erring and possibly repentant
candlestick； whom we all devoutly prefer； as she is not only
highly decorative； but good…natured； and if she does little
work makes no rows。 I tell this lightly； but it really was a
heavy business； many were accused of complicity； and Rafael
was really very sorry。 I had to hold beds of justice …
literally … seated in my bed and surrounded by lying Samoans
seated on the floor； and there were many picturesque and
still inexplicable passages。 It is hard to reach the truth
in these islands。
The next incident overlapped with this。 S。 and Fanny found
three strange horses in the paddock： for long now the boys
have been forbidden to leave their horses here one hour
because our grass is over…grazed。 S。 came up with the news；
and I saw I must now strike a blow。 'To the pound with the
lot；' said I。 He proposed taking the three himself； but I
thought that too dangerous an experiment； said I should go
too； and hurried into my boots so as to show decision taken；
in the necessary interviews。 They came of course … the
interviews … and I explained what I was going to do at huge
length； and stuck to my guns。 I am glad to say the natives；
with their usual （purely speculative） sense of justice highly
approved the step after reflection。 Meanwhile off went S。
and I with the three CORPORA DELICTI； and a good job I went！
Once； when our circus began to kick； we thought all was up；
but we got them down all sound in wind and limb。 I judged I
was much fallen off from my Elliott forefathers； who managed
this class of business with neatness and despatch。 Half…way
down it came on to rain tropic style； and I came back from my
outing drenched liked a drowned man … I was literally blinded
as I came back among these sheets of water； and the
consequence was I was laid down with diarrhoea and
threatenings of Samoa colic for the inside of another week。
I have a confession to make。 When I was sick I tried to get
to work to finish that Samoa thing； wouldn't go； and at last；
in the colic time； I slid off into DAVID BALFOUR； some 50
pages of which are drafted； and like me well。 Really I think
it is spirited； and there's a heroine that （up to now） seems
to have attractions： ABSIT OMEN！ David； on the whole； seems
excellent。 Alan does not come in till the tenth chapter； and
I am only at the eighth； so I don't know if I can find him
again； but David is on his feet； and doing well； and very
much in love； and mixed up with the Lord Advocate and the
（untitled） Lord Lovat； and all manner of great folk。 And the
tale interferes with my eating and sleeping。 The join is
bad； I have not thought to strain too much for continuity； so
this part be alive； I shall be content。 But there's no doubt
David seems to have changed his style； de'il ha'e him！ And
much I care； if the tale travel！
FRIDAY； FEB。 ？？ 19TH？
Two incidents to…day which I must narrate。 After lunch； it
was raining pitilessly； we were sitting in my mother's
bedroom； and I was reading aloud Kinglake's Charge of the
Light Brigade； and we had just been all seized by the horses
aligning with Lord George Paget； when a figure appeared on
the verandah； a little； slim； small figure of a lad； with
blond （I。E。 limed） hair； a propitiatory smile； and a nose
that alone of all his features grew pale with anxiety。 'I
come here stop；' was about the outside of his English； and I
began at once to guess that he was a runaway labourer； and
that the bush…knife in his hand was stolen。 It proved he had
a mate； who had lacked his courage； and was hidden down the
road； they had both made up their minds to run away； and had
'come here stop。' I could not turn out the poor rogues； one
of whom showed me marks on his back； into the drenching
forest； I could not reason with them； for they had not enough
English； and not one of our boys spoke their tongue； so I
bade them feed and sleep here to…night； and to…morrow I must
do what the Lord shall bid me。
Near dinner time； I was told that a friend of Lafaele's had
found human remains in my bush。 After dinner； a figure was
seen skulking across towards the waterfall； which produced
from the verandah a shout； in my most stentorian tones： 'O AI
LE INGOA？' literally 'Who the name？' which serves here for
'What's your business？' as well。 It proved to be Lafaele's
friend； I bade a kitchen boy； Lauilo； go with him to see the
spot； for though it had ceased raining； the whole island ran
and dripped。 Lauilo was willing enough； but the friend of
the archangel demurred； he had too much business； he had no
time。 'All right；' I said； 'you too much frightened； I go
along；' which of course produced the usual shout of delight
from all those who did not require to go。 I got into my
Saranac snow boots。 Lauilo got a cutlass； Mary Carter； our
Sydney maid； joined the party for a lark； and off we set。 I
tell you our guide kept us moving； for the dusk fell swift。
Our woods have an infamous reputation at the best； and our
errand （to say the least of it） was grisly。 At last 'they
found the remains； they were old； which was all I cared to be
sure of； it seemed a strangely small 'pickle…banes' to stand
for a big； flourishing； buck…islander； and their situation in
the darkening and dripping bush was melancholy。 All at once；
I found there was a second skull； with a bullet…hole I could
have stuck my two thumbs in … say anybody else's one thumb。
My Samoans said it could not be； there were not enough bones；
I put the two pieces of skull together； and at last convinced
them。 Whereupon； in a flash； they found the not unromantic
explanation。 This poor brave had succeeded in the height of
a Samoan warriors ambition； he had taken a head； which he was
never destined to show to his applauding camp。 Wounded
himself； he had crept here into the bush to die with his
useless trophy by his side。 His date would be about fifteen
years ago； in the great battle between Laupepa and Talavou；
which took place on My Land； Sir。 To…morrow we shall bury
the bones and fire a salute in honour of unfortunate courage。
Do you think I have an empty life？ or that a man jogging to
his club has so much to interest and amuse him？ … touch and
try him too； but that goes along with the others： no pain； no
pleasure； is the iron law。 So here I stop again； and leave；
as I left yesterday； my political business untouched。 And
lo！ here comes my pupil； I believe； so I stop in time。
MARCH 2ND。
Since I last wrote； fifteen chapters of DAVID BALFOUR have
been drafted； and five TIRES AU CLAIR。 I think it pretty
good； there's a blooming maiden that costs anxiety … she is
as virginal as billy； but David seems there and alive； and
the Lord Advocate is good； and so I think is an episodic
appearance of the Master of Lovat。 In Chapter XVII。 I shall
get David abroad … Alan went already in Chapter XII。 The
book should be about the length of KIDNAPPED； this early part
of it； about D。's evidence in the Appin case； is more of a
story than anything in KIDNAPPED； but there is no doubt there
comes a break in the middle； and the tale is practically in
two divisions。 In the first James