Itsoundedverypeaceful，sweetandstrangeinthedark；andIfoundthiswasapartoftheroutineofmyrebel’snight，anditwasdonehesaidtogivegooddreams。Byalittlebeforesix，TaylorandIwereinthesaddleagainfasting。
　　MyridingbootsweresowetIcouldnotgetthemon，soI
　　mustridebarefoot。Themorningwasfairbuttheroadsverymuddy，theweedssoakedusnearlytothewaist，Salewastwicespiltatthefences，andwegottoApiaabedraggledenoughpair。Allthewayalongthecoast，thepatesmallwoodendrumwasbeatinginthevillagesandthepeoplecrowdingtothechurchesintheirfineclothes。Thencethroughthemangroveswamp，amongtheblackmudandthegreenmangroves，andtheblackandscarletcrabs，toMulinuu，tothedoctor’s，whereIhadanerrand，andsototheinntobreakfastaboutnine。AfterbreakfastIrodehome。Conceivesuchanouting，rememberthepallidbrutethatlivedinSkerryvorelikeaweevilinabiscuit，andreceivetheintelligencethatIwasratherthebetterformyjourney。
　　Twentymilesride，sixteenfencestaken，tenofthemilesinadrenchingrain，sevenofthemfastingandinthemorningchill，andsixstrickenhours’politicaldiscussionsbyaninterpreter；tosaynothingofsleepinginanativehouse，atwhichmanyofourexcellentliteratiwouldlookaskanceofitself。
　　Youaretounderstand:ifItakeallthisbother，itisnotonlyfromasenseofduty，oraloveofmeddling-damnthephrase，takeyourchoice-butfromagreataffectionforMataafa。Heisabeautiful，sweetoldfellow，andheandI
　　grewquitefulsomeonSaturdaynightaboutoursentiments。I
　　hadamessengerfromhimto-daywithaflannelundershirtwhichIhadleftbehindlikeagibberingidiot；andperpetratedinreplyanotherbabooletter。Itrainsagainto-daywithoutmercy；blessed，welcomerains，makingupforthepaucityofthelatewetseason；andwhentheshowersslacken，Icanhearmystreamroaringinthehollow，andtellmyselfthatthecacaosaredrinkingdeep。IamdesperatelyhuntedtofinishmySamoabookbeforethemailgoes；thislastchapterisequallydelicateandnecessary。Theprayersofthecongregationarerequested。Eheu！anditwillbeendedbeforethisletterleavesandprintedintheStatesereyoucanreadthisscribble。Thefirstdinnergonghassounded；JEVOUSSALUE，MONSIEURETCHERCONFRERE。TOFA，SOIFUA！Sleep！longlife！asourSamoansalutationoffarewellruns。
　　FRIDAY，MAY13TH。
　　Well，thelastchapter，byfarthemostdifficultandungrateful，iswellunderway，IhavebeenfromsixtosevenhoursuponitdailysinceIlastwrote；andthatisallI
　　havedoneforbyeworkingatSamoanratherhard，andgoingdownonWednesdayeveningtotheclub。Imakesomeprogressnowatthelanguage；IamteachingBelle，whichclearsandexercisesmyself。IamparticularlytakenwiththeFINESSE
　　ofthepronouns。Thepronounsarealldualandpluralandthefirstperson，bothinthedualandplural，hasaspecialexclusiveandinclusiveform。Youcanconceivewhatfineeffectsofprecisionanddistinctioncanbereachedincertaincases。TakeRuth，i。VV。8to13，andimaginehowthosepronounscomein；itisexquisitelyelegant，andmakesthemouthoftheLITTERATEURtowater。Iamgoingtoexercitatemypupiloverthoseversesto-dayforpronounpractice。
　　TUESDAY。
　　Yesterdaycameyours。Well，well，ifthedearspreferaweek，why，I’llgivethemtendays，buttherealdocument，fromwhichIhavescarcelyvaried，ranforonenight。I
　　thinkyouseemscarcelyfairtoWiltshire，whohadsurely，underhisbeast-ignorantways，rightnoblequalities。AndI
　　thinkperhapsyouscarcedojusticetothefactthatthisisaplaceofrealismAOUTRANCE；nothingextenuatedorcoloured。Lookedatso，isitnot，withallitstragicfeatures，wonderfullyidyllic，withgreatbeautyofsceneandcircumstance？Andwillyoupleasetoobservethatalmostallthatisuglyisinthewhites？I’llapologiseforPapaRandalifyoulike；butifItoldyouthewholetruth-forI
　　didextenuatethere！-andheseemedtomeessentialasafigure，andessentialasapawninthegame，Wiltshire’sdisgustforhimbeingoneofthesmall，efficientmotivesinthestory。NowitwouldhavetakenafairishdosetodisgustWiltshire-Again，theideaofpublishingtheBeachsubstantivelyisdropped-atonce，bothonaccountofexpostulation，andbecauseitmeasuredshorterthanIhadexpected。Anditwasonlytakenup，whentheproposedvolume，BEACHDEMAR，peteredout。Itpeteredoutthus:thechiefoftheshortstoriesgotsuckedintoSOPHIASCARLET-
　　andSophiaisabookIammuchtakenwith，andmeantogetto，assoonas-butnotbefore-IhavedoneDAVIDBALFOUR
　　andTHEYOUNGCHEVALIER。SoyouseeyouareliketohearnomoreofthePacificorthenineteenthcenturyforawhile。
　　THEYOUNGCHEVALIERisastoryofsentimentandpassion，whichImeantowritealittledifferentlyfromwhatIhavebeendoing-ifIcanhitthekey；rathermoreofasentimentaltremolotoit。ItmaythushelptopreparemeforSOPHIA，whichistocontainthreeladies，andakindofaloveaffairbetweentheheroineandadyingplanterwhoisapoet！largeordersforR。L。S。
　　OtheGermantabooisquiteover；nosoulattemptstosupporttheC。J。orthePresident，theyarepasthope；thewhiteshavejustrefusedtheirtaxes-Imeanthecouncilhasrefusedtocallforthem，andifthecouncilconsented，nobodywouldpay；’tisafarce，andthecurtainisgoingtofallbriefly。ConsequentlyinmyHistory，Isayaslittleasmaybeofthetwodwindlingstars。Poordevils！Ilikedtheone，andtheotherhasalittlewife，nowlyingin！TherewasnomanbornwithsolittleanimosityasI。WhenIheardtheC。J。wasinlowspiritsandneverlefthishouse，I
　　couldscarcerefrainfromgoingtohim。
　　ItwasafinefeelingtohavefinishedtheHistory；thereoughttobeafuturestatetorewardthatgrind！It’snotliterature，youknow；onlyjournalism，andpedanticjournalism。Ihadbuttheonedesire，togetthethingasrightasmightbe，andavoidfalseconcords-evenifthat！
　　Anditwasmorethantherewastimefor。However，thereitis:done。AndifSamoaturnsupagainmybookhastobecountedwith，beingtheonlynarrativeextant。MiltonandI-
　　ifyoukindlyexcusethejuxtaposition-harnessedourselvestostrangewaggons，andIatleastwillbefoundtohaveploddedverysoberlywithmyload。Thereisnotevenagoodsentenceinit，butperhaps-Idon’tknow-itmaybefoundanhonest，clearvolume。
　　WEDNESDAY。
　　Nevergotawordsetdown，andcontinuesonThursday19thMay，hisownmarriagedayaseverwas。News；yes。TheC。J。
　　cameuptocallonus！Afterfivemonths’cessationonmyside，andadecidedlypainfulinterchangeofletters，Icouldnotgodown-couldnot-toseehim。Mythreeladiesreceivedhim，however；hewasveryagreeableasusual，butrefusedwine，beer，water，lemonade，chocolateandatlastacigarette。Thenmywifeaskedhim，’Soyourefusetobreakbread？’andhewavedhishandsamiablyinanswer。Allmythreeladiesreceivedthesameimpressionthathehadseriousmattersinhismind:nowwehearheisquitecock-a-hoopsincethemailcame，andgoingaboutasbeforehistroublesdarkened。Butwhatdidhewantwithme？’Tisthoughthehadreceivedadespatch-andthathemisreadsitsowefullybelievetotheeffectthattheyaretohavewarshipsatcommandandcanmaketheirlittlewarafterall。Ifitbeso，andtheydoit，itwillbethemeanestwantonslaughterofpoormenforthesalariesoftwowhitefailures。Butwhatwashiserrandwithme？PerhapstowarnmethatunlessI
　　behavehenowhopestobeabletopackmeoffintheCURACOA
　　whenshecomes。
　　IhavecelebratedmyholidayfromSAMOAbyaplungeatthebeginningofTHEYOUNGCHEVALIER。Iamafraidmytouchisalittlebroadinalovestory；Ican’tmeanonethingandwriteanother。Asforwomen，Iamnomoreinanyfearofthem；Icandoasortallright；agemakesmelessafraidofapetticoat，butIamalittleinfearofgrossness。
　　However，thisDavidBalfour’sloveaffair，that’sallright-
　　mightbereadouttoamothers’meeting-oradaughters’
　　meeting。Thedifficultyinaloveyarn，whichdwellsatallonlove，isthedwellingononestring；itismanifold，I
　　grant，buttherootfactisthereunchanged，andthesentimentbeingveryintense，andalreadyverymuchhandledinletters，positivelycallsforalittlepawingandgracing。
　　Withawriterofmyprosaicliteralnessandpertinencyofpointofview，thisallshovestowardgrossness-positivelyeventowardsthefarmoredamnableCLOSENESS。Thishaskeptmeoffthesentimenthitherto，andnowIamtotry:Lord！OfcourseMeredithcandoit，andsocouldShakespeare；butwithallmyromance，Iamarealistandaprosaist，andamostfanaticalloverofplainphysicalsensationsplainlyandexpresslyrendered；hencemyperils。TodoloveinthesamespiritasIdidforinstanceD。Balfour’sfatigueintheheather；mydearsir，thereweregrossness-readymade！Andhence，howtosugar？However，IhavenearlydonewithMarie-
　　Madeleine，andamingoodhopesofMarie-Salome，therealheroine；theotherisonlyaprologuialheroinetointroducethehero。
　　FRIDAY。
　　Anyway，thefirstprologuialepisodeisdone，andFannylikesit。Thereareonlyfourcharacters；FrancisBlairofBalmileJacobiteLordGladsmuirmyhero；theMasterofBallantrae；
　　Paradon，awine-sellerofAvignon；Marie-Madeleinehiswife。
　　ThesetwolastIamnowdonewith，andIthinktheyaresuccessful，andIhopeIhaveBalmileonhisfeet；andthestyleseemstobefound。Itisalittlechargedandviolent；
　　sinsonthesideofviolence；butIthinkwillcarrythetale。Ithinkitisagoodideasotointroducemyhero，beingmadelovetobyanepisodicwoman。Thisqueertale-I
　　meanqueerforme-hastakenagreatholduponme。WherethedevilshallIgonext？ThisissimplythetaleofaCOUP
　　DETETEofayoungmanandayoungwoman；withanearly，perhapsawholly，tragicsequel，whichIdesiretomakethinkablerightthrough，andsensible；tomakethereader，asfarasIshallbeable，eatanddrinkandbreatheit。Marie-
　　SalomedesSaintes-Mariesis，Ithink，theheroine’sname；
　　shehasgottoBEyet:SURSUMCORDA！SohastheyoungChevalier，whomIhavenotyettouched，andwhocomesnextinorder。Characters:Balmile，orLordGladsmuir，COMMEVOUS
　　VOULEZ；PrinceCharlie；EarlMarischal；MasterofBallantrae；
　　andaspy，andDr。ArchieCampbell，andafewnondescripts；
　　then，ofwomen，Marie-SalomeandFloraBlair；sevenattheoutside；reallyfourfulllengths，andIsupposeahalf-dozenepisodicprofiles。HowImustboreyouwiththeseineptitudes！Havepatience。Iamgoingtobed；itisofallhourseleven。IhavebeenforcedinsinceIbegantowritetoyoutoblattertoFannyonthesubjectofmyheroine，therebeingtwoCRUCESastoherlifeandhistory:
　　howcameshealone？andhowfardidshegowiththeChevalier？ThesecondmustansweritselfwhenIgetnearenoughtosee。Thefirstisaback-breaker。YetIknowtherearemanyreasonswhyaFILLEDEFAMINE，romantic，adventurous，ambitious，innocentoftheworld，mightrunfromherhomeinthesedays；mightshenothavebeenthreatenedwithaconvent？mighttherenotbesomeHuguenotbusinessmixedin？HereamI，farfrombooks；ifyoucanhelpmewithasuggestion，IshallsayGodblessyou。Shehastobenewrunawayfromastrictfamily，well-justifiedinherownwildbuthonesteyes，andmeetingthesethreemen，CharlesEdward，Marischal，andBalmile，throughtheaccidentofafireataninn。Shemustnotrunfromamarriage，Ithink；itwouldbringherinthewrongframeofmind。OnceIcangether，SOLA，onthehighway，allwerewellwithmynarrative。
　　Perpend。Andhelpifyoucan。
　　Lafaele，longIhopefamiliartoyou，hasthisdayreceivedthevisitofhisSONfromTonga；andtheSONprovestobeaverypretty，attractiveyoungdaughter！Igavealltheboyskavainhonourofherarrival；alongwithalean，side-
　　whiskeredTongan，dimlysupposedtobeLafaele’sstep-father；
　　andtheyhavebeenhavingagoodtime；intheendofmyverandah，IhearSimi，mypresentincapablesteward，talkingTonganwiththenondescriptpapa。Simi，ourout-doorboy，burstasuccessionofblood-vesselsoverourwork，andIhadtomakeapositionforthewreckofoneofthenoblestfiguresofamanIeversaw。IbelieveImayhavementionedtheotherdayhowIhadtoputmyhorsetothetrot，thecanterandatlastthegalloptorunhimdown。InaphotographIhopetosendyouperhapswiththisyouwillseeSimistandingintheverandahinprofile。Asasteward，oneofhischiefpointsistobreakcrystal；heisgreatonfracture-whatdoIsay？-explosion！Hecleansaglass，andtheshardsscatterlikeacomet’sbowels。
　　N。B-IfIshouldbyanychancebedeported，thefirstoftheruleshungupforthatoccasionistocommunicatewithyoubytelegraph-Mind，Idonotfearit，butitIS
　　possible。
　　MONDAY25TH。
　　Wehavehadadevilofamorningofupsetandbustle；thebronzecandlestickFaaumahasreturnedtothefamily，intimetotakeherpositionofstepmamma，anditisprettytoseehowthechildisatonceathome，andallherterrorsended。