MYDEARCOLVIN，-OnTuesday，wehadouryoungadventurerready，andFanny，Belle，heandIsetoutaboutthreeofadark，deadlyhot，anddeeplyunwholesomeafternoon。Bellehadtheladbehindher；Ihadapintofchampagneineitherpocket，aparcelinmyhands，andasJackhadagirthsoreandIrodewithoutagirth，Imightbesaidtooccupyaveryunstrategicposition。Onthewaydown，alittledreary，beastlydrizzlebeginningtocomeoutofthedarkness，Fannyputupanumbrella，herhorsebounded，reared，cannonedintome，cannonedintoBelleandthelad，andboltedforhome。ItreallymightandoughttohavebeenanA1catastrophe；butnothinghappenedbeyondFanny’snervesbeingagooddealshattered；ofcourse，shecouldnottellwhathadhappenedtousuntilshegotherhorsemastered。
　　Nextday，HaggardwentofftotheCommissionandleftusinchargeofhishouse；allourpeoplecamedowninwreathsofflowers；wehadaboatforthem；HaggardhadaflagintheCommissionboatforus；andwhenatlastthesteamerturnedup，theyoungadventurerwascarriedonboardingreatstyle，withanewwatchandchain，andaboutthreepoundtenoftips，andfivebigbasketsoffruitasfree-willofferingstothecaptain。CaptainMorsehadusalltolunch；champagneflowed，sodidcompliments；andIdidtheaffablecelebritylife-sized。Itmadeagreatsend-offfortheyoungadventurer。Astheboatdrewoff，hewasstandingattheheadofthegangway，supportedbythreehandsomeladies-oneofthemarealfull-blownbeauty，MadameGreen，thesinger-
　　andlookingveryengaginghimself，betweensmilesandtears。
　　Notthathecriedinpublic。
　　My，butwewereatiredcrowd！However，itisalwaysablessingtogethome，andthistimeitwasasortofwondertoourselvesthatwegotbackalive。Casualties:Fanny’sbackjarred，horseincident；Belle，badheadache，tearsandchampagne；self，idiocy，champagne，fatigue；Lloyd，ditto，ditto。Asfortheadventurer，Ibelievehewillhaveadelightfulvoyageforhislittlestartinlife。Butthereisalwayssomethingtouchinginamite’sfirstlaunch。
　　DATEUNKNOWN。
　　IamnowwellonwiththethirdpartoftheDEBACLE。ThetwofirstIlikedmuch；thesecondcompletelyknockingme；sofarasithasgone，thisthirdpartappearstheramblingsofadullmanwhohasforgottenwhathehastosay-heremindsmeofanM。P。ButSedanwasreallygreat，andIwillpicknoholes。Thebatteriesunderfire，thered-crossfolk，thecountycharge-perhaps，aboveall，MajorBourocheandtheoperations，allbeyonddiscussion；andeverywordabouttheEmperorsplendid。
　　SEPTEMBER30TH。
　　DavidBalfourdone，anditsauthoralongwithit，ornearlyso。Strangetothinkofevenourdoctorhererepeatinghisnonsenseaboutdebilitatingclimate。Why，theworkIhavebeendoingthelasttwelvemonths，inonecontinuousspate，mostlywithannoyinginterruptionsandwithoutanycollapsetomention，wouldbeincredibleinNorway。ButIHAVEbrokendownnow，andwilldonothingaslongasIpossiblycan。
　　WithDavidBalfourIamverywellpleased；infacttheselaboursofthelastyear-ImeanFALESAANDD。B。，notSamoa，ofcourse-seemtometobenearerwhatImeanthananythingIhaveeverdone；nearerwhatImeanbyfiction；thenearestthingbeforewasKIDNAPPED。IamnotforgettingtheMASTEROFBALLANTRAE，butthatlackedallpleasurableness，andhencewasimperfectinessence。Soyousee，ifIamalittletired，Idonotrepent。
　　ThethirdpartoftheDEBACLEmaybeallveryfine；butI
　　cannotreadit。ItsuffersfromIMPAIREDVITALITY，andUNCERTAINAIM；twodeadlysicknesses。Vital-that’swhatI
　　amat，first:whollyvital，withabuoyancyoflife。Thenlyrical，ifitmaybe，andpicturesque，alwayswithanepicvalueofscenes，sothatthefiguresremaininthemind’seyeforever。
　　OCTOBER8TH。
　　Supposeyousentussomeofthecataloguesofthepartieswhatvendsstatutes？Idon’twantcolossalHerculeses，butaboutquartersizeandless。Ifthecatalogueswereillustrateditwouldprobablybefoundahelptoweakmemories。Thesemaybefoundtoalleviatesparemoments，whenwesometimesamuseourselvesbythinkinghowfineweshallmakethepalaceifwedonotgopop。Perhapsinthesamewayitmightamuseyoutosendusanypatternofwallpaperthatmightstrikeyouascheap，prettyandsuitableforaroominahotandextremelybrightclimate。Itshouldbeborneinmindthatourclimatecanbeextremelydarktoo。
　　Oursitting-roomistobeinvarnishedwood。TheroomIhaveparticularlyinmindisasortofbedandsitting-room，prettylarge，litonthreesides，andthecolourinfavourofitsproprietoratpresentisatopazyyellow。Butthenwithwhatcolourtorelieveit？Foralittlework-roomofmyownattheback。Ishouldratherliketoseesomepatternsofunglossy-well，I’llbehangedifIcandescribethisred-
　　it’snotTurkishandit’snotRomanandit’snotIndian，butitseemstopartakeofthetwolast，andyetitcan’tbeeitherofthem，becauseitoughttobeabletogowithvermilion。Ah，whatatangledwebweweave-anyway，withwhatbrainsyouhaveleftchoosemeandsendmesome-many-
　　patternsofthisexactshade。
　　AfewdaysagoitwasHaggard’sbirthdayandwehadhimandhiscousintodinner-blessmeifIevertoldyouofhiscousin！-heishereanyway，andafine，pleasingspecimen，sothatwehaveconcludedafterourownhappyexperience
　　thattheclimateofSamoamustbefavourabletocousins。
　　Thenwewentoutontheverandahinalovelymoonlight，drinkingport，hearingthecousinplayandsing，tillpresentlywewereinformedthatourboyshadgotupasivainLafaele’shousetowhichwewereinvited。Itwasentirelytheirownidea。Thehouse，youmustunderstand，isone-halffloored，andone-halfbareearth，andthedaisstandsalittleoverkneehighabovethelevelofthesoil。Thedaiswasthestage，withthreefootlights。Weaudiencesatonmatsonthefloor，andthecookandthreeofourwork-boys，sometimesassistedbyourtwoladies，tooktheirplacesbehindthefootlightsandbeganatopicalVailimasong。TheburdenwasofcoursethatofaSamoanpopularsongaboutawhitemanwhoobjectstoallthatheseesinSamoa。Andtherewasofcourseaspecialverseforeachoneoftheparty-LloydwascalledthedancingmanpracticallytheChief’shandsomesonofVailima；hewasalso，inhischaracterI
　　supposeofoverseer，comparedtoapoliceman-Bellehadthatdaybeenthealmonerinasemi-comicdistributionofweddingringsandthimblesboughtcheapatanauctiontothewholeplantationcompany，fittingaringoneveryman’sfinger，andaringandathimbleonboththewomen’s。ThiswasverymuchincharacterwithhernativenameTEUILA，theadorneroftheugly-soofcoursethiswasthepointofherverseandatagivenmomentalltheperformersdisplayedtheringsupontheirfingers。Pelemathecousin-OURcousinwasdescribedaswatchingfromthehouseandwheneverhesawanyboynotdoinganything，runninganddoingithimself。
　　Fanny’sversewaslessintelligible，butitwasaccompaniedinthedancewithapantomimeofterrorwell-fittedtocallupherhaunting，indefatigableanddiminutivepresenceinabluegown。
　　MYDEARCOLVIN，-Thisisverylatetobeginthemonthlybudget，butIhaveagoodexcusethistime，forIhavehadaveryannoyingfeverwithsymptomsofsorearm，andinthemidstofitaveryannoyingpieceofbusinesswhichsufferednodelayoridleness……Theconsequenceofallthiswasthatmyfevergotverymuchworseandyourletterhasnotbeenhithertowritten。But，mydearfellow，docomparetheselittlelarkyfeverswiththefine，healthy，prostratingcoldsofthedearolddeaddaysathome。HerewasI，inthemiddleofaprettybadone，andIwasabletoputitinmypocket，andgodowndayafterday，andattendtoandputmystrengthintothisbeastlybusiness。Doyouseemedoingthatwithacatarrh？AndifIhaddoneso，whatwouldhavebeentheresult？
　　Lastnight，aboutfouro’clock，BelleandIsetofftoApia，whithermymotherhadprecededus。ShewasattheMission；
　　wewenttoHaggard’s。Therewehadtowaitthemostunconscionabletimefordinner。IdonotwishtospeaklightlyoftheAmanuensis，whoisunavoidablypresent，butI
　　mayatleastsayformyselfthatIwasascrossastwosticks。Dinnercameatlast，wehadthetinnedsoupwhichisusuallythePIECEDERESISTANCEinthehallsofHaggard，andwepitchedintoit。Followedanexcellentsaladoftomatoesandcray-fish，agoodIndiancurry，atenderjointofbeef，adishofpigeons，apudding，cheeseandcoffee。Iwassoover-eatenafterthis’hungerandburst’thatIcouldscarcelymove；anditwasmysadfatethatnightinthecharacterofthelocalauthortoeloquutebeforethepublic-
　　’Mr。Stevensonwillreadaselectionfromhisownworks’-adegradingpicture。Ihaddeterminedtoreadthemtheaccountofthehurricane；IdonotknowifItoldyouthatmybookhasneverturneduphere，orratheronlyonecopyhas，andthatintheunfriendlyhandsof。Ithasthereforeonlybeenseenbyenemies；andthiscombinationofmysteryandevilreporthasbeengreatlyenvenomedbysomeill-judgednewspaperarticlesfromtheStates。AltogetherthisspecimenwaslistenedtowithagooddealofuncomfortableexpectationonthepartoftheGermans，andwhenitwasoverwasapplaudedwithunmistakablerelief。Thepublichallwheretheserevelscameoffseemstobeunluckyforme；Inevergotherebuttosomestone-breakingjob。LasttimeitwasthepublicmeetingofwhichImusthavewrittenyou；thistimeitwasthisuneasybutnotonthewholeunsuccessfulexperiment。
　　Belle，mymother，andIrodehomeaboutmidnightinafinedisplayoflightningandwitch-fires。Mymotherisabsent，sothatImaydaretosaythatshestruckmeasvoluble。TheAmanuensisdidnotstrikemethesameway；shewasprobablythinking，butitwasreallyratheraweirdbusiness，andI
　　sawwhatIhaveneverseenbefore，thewitch-firesgatheredintolittlebrightbluepointsalmostasbrightasanight-
　　light。
　　SATURDAY
　　Thisisthedaythatshouldbringyourletter；itisgrayandcloudyandwindless；thunderrollsinthemountain；itisaquarterpastsix，andIamalone，sir，aloneinthisworkman’shouse，BelleandLloydhavingbeendownallyesterdaytomeetthesteamer；theywerescarcegonewithmostofthehorsesandallthesaddles，thantherebeganaperfectpicnicofthesickandmaim；Iopuwithabadfoot，Faaumawithabadshoulder，Fannywithyellowspots。Itwasatfirstproposedtocarryallthesetothedoctor，particularlyFaauma，whoseshoulderboreanappearanceoferysipelas，thatsenttheamateurbelow。Nohorses，nosaddle。NowIhadmyhorseandIcouldborrowLafaele’ssaddle；andifIwentaloneIcoulddoajobthathadlongbeenwaiting；andthatwastointerviewthedoctoronanothermatter。OffIsetinahazymoonlightnight；windless，liketo-day；thethunderrollinginthemountain，asto-day；inthestillgroves，theselittlemushroomlampsglowingblueandsteady，singlyorinpairs。Well，Ihadmyinterview，saideverythingasIhadmeant，andwithjusttheresultI
　　hopedfor。ThedoctorandIdrankbeertogetheranddiscussedGermanliteratureuntilnine，andwepartedthebestoffriends。Igothometoasilenthouseofsleepers，onlyFannyawaitingme；wetalkedawhile，inwhispers，ontheinterview；then，Igotalanternandwentacrosstotheworkman’shouse，nowemptyandsilent，myselfsoleoccupant。
　　Sotobed，prodigioustiredbutmightycontentwithmynight’swork，andto-day，withaheadacheandachill，havewrittenyouthispage，whilemynewnovelwaits。OfthisI
　　willtellyounothing，exceptthevariousnamesunderconsideration。First，itoughttobecalled-butofcoursethatisimpossible-
　　BRAXFIELD。
　　ThenitIStobecalledeitherWEIROFHERMISTON，THELORD-JUSTICECLERK，THETWOKIRSTIESOFTHECAULDSTANESLAP，orFOURBLACKBROTHERS。
　　Characters:
　　AdamWeir，Lord-JusticeClerk，calledLordHermiston。
　　Archie，hisson。
　　AuntKirstieElliott，hishousekeeperatHermiston。
　　ElliottoftheCauldstaneslap，herbrother。
　　KirstieElliott，hisdaughter。
　　Dandie，}
　　PatrickInnes，ayoungadvocate。
　　TheLord-JusticeGeneral。
　　Scene，aboutHermistonintheLammermuirsandinEdinburgh。
　　Temp。1812。Soyouseeyouaretohaveanotherholidayfromcopra！Therainbeginssoftlyontheironroof，andIwilldothereverseand-dryup。
　　SUNDAY。
　　Yourswiththediplomaticprivateopinionreceived。ItisjustwhatIshouldhavesupposed。CAM’ESTBIENEGAL-ThenameistobeTHELORD-JUSTICECLERK。
　　Noneothersaregenuine。UnlessitbeLORD-JUSTICECLERKHERMISTON。
　　NOV。2ND。
　　OnSaturdayweexpectedCaptainMorseoftheAlamedatocomeuptolunch，andonFridaywithgenuineSouthSeahospitalityhadapigkilled。OntheSaturdaymorningnopig。Someoftheboysseemedtogiveadoubtfulaccountofthemselves；ournextneighbourbelowinthewoodisabadfellowandveryintimatewithsomeofourboys，forwhomhisconfoundedhouseislikeafly-paperforflies。Toaddtoallthis，therewasontheSaturdayagreatpublicpresentationoffoodtotheKingandParliamentmen，anoccasiononwhichitisalmostdignifiedforaSamoantostealanything，andentirelydignifiedforhimtostealapig。
　　TheAmanuensiswenttotheTALOLO，asitiscalled，andsawsomethingsoverypleasingshebegstointerruptthelettertotellit。Thedifferentvillagerscameininbands-ledbythemaidofthevillage，followedbytheyoungwarriors。