1。SLIP3。DaviewouldbeATTRACTEDintoasimilardialect，asheislater-e。g。，withDoig，chapterXIX。ThisistrulyScottish。
　　4，TOLIGHTLY；correct；’tolightly’isagoodregularScotsverb。
　　15。SeeAllanRamsay’sworks。
　　15，16。Ay，andthatisoneofthepigmentswithwhichIamtryingtodrawthecharacterofPrestongrange。’Tisamostcuriousthingtorenderthatkind，insignificantmask。Tomakeanythingpreciseistoriskmyeffect。Andtillthedayhedied，DAVIEwasneversureofwhatP。wasafter。Notonlyso；veryoftenP。didn’tknowhimself。TherewasanelementofmerelikingforDavie；therewasanelementofbeingdetermined，incaseofaccidents，tokeepwellwithhim。HehopedhisBarbarawouldbringhimtoherfeet，besides，andmakehimmanageable。ThatwaswhyhesenthimtoHopeParkwiththem。ButDaviecannotKNOW；IgiveyoutheinsideofDavie，andmymethodcondemnsmetogiveonlytheoutsidebothofPrestongrangeandhispolicy-
　　I’llgivemymindtothetechnicalities。Yettometheyseemapartofthestory，whichishistorical，afterall-
　　IthinktheywantedAlantoescape。Butwhenorwheretosayso？Iwilltry-
　　20，DEAN。I’lltryandmakethatplainer。
　　CHAP……，Ifearithastogowithoutblows。IfIcouldgetthepair-No，can’tbe。
　　Allright，willabridge。
　　I’dhavetoputanotetoeveryword；andhewhocan’treadScotscanNEVERenjoyTodLapraik。
　　Quiteright。ICANmakethisplainer，andwill。
　　Iknow，butIhavetohurryhere；thisisthebrokenbackofmystory；somebusinessbrieflytransacted，I
　　amleapingforBarbara’sapron-strings。
　　SLIP57。Quiterightagain；Ishallmakeitplain。
　　CHAP。XX。Ishallmakeallthesepointsclear。AboutLadyPrestongrangenotLADYGrant，onlyMISSGrant，mydear，thoughLADYPrestongrange，quoththedominieIamtakenwithyourideaofherdeath，andhaveagoodmindtosubstituteafeaturelessaunt。
　　SLIP78。Idon’tseehowtolessenthiseffect。Thereisreallynotmuchsaidofit；andIknowCatrionadidit。ButI’lltry-
　　89。Iknow。Thisisanoldpuzzleofmine。YouseeC。’sdialectisnotwhollyabedofroses。IfonlyIknewtheGaelic。Well，I’lltryforanotherexpression。
　　THEEND。Ishalltrytoworkitover。JameswasatDunkirkorderingpost-horsesforhisownretreat。Catrionadidhavehersuspicionsarousedbytheletter，and，carelessgentleman，Itoldyouso-orshedidatleast-Yes，thebloodmoney，Iambotheredabouttheportmanteau；itisthepresenceofCatrionathatbothersme；therapeofthepockmantieishistoric……
　　Tome，Iown，itseemsintheproofaveryprettypieceofworkmanship。DavidhimselfIrefusetodiscuss；heIS。TheLordAdvocateIthinkastrongsketchofaverydifficultcharacter，JamesMore，sufficient；andthetwogirlsverypleasingcreatures。ButOdearme，IcamenearlosingmyhearttoBarbara！IamnotquitesoconstantasDavid，andevenhe-well，hedidn’tknowit，anyway！TODLAPRAIKisapieceoflivingScots:ifIhadneverwritanythingbutthatandTHRAWNJANET，stillI’dhavebeenawriter。ThedefectsofD。B。areinherent，Ifear。Butonthewhole，Iamfarindeedfrombeingdispleasedwiththetailie。TheywantmoreAlan？Well，theycan’tgetit。
　　Ifoundmyfamemuchgrownonthisreturntocivilisation。
　　DIGITOMONSTRARIisanewexperience；peoplealllookedatmeinthestreetsinSydney；anditwasveryqueer。Here，ofcourse，IamonlythewhitechiefintheGreatHousetothenatives；andtothewhites，eitheranallyorafoe。Itisamuchhealthierstateofmatters。IfIlivedinanatmosphereofadulation，Ishouldendbykickingagainstthepricks。O
　　mybeautifulforest，Omybeautifulshining，windyhouse，whatajoyitwastobeholdthemagain！Nochancetotakemyselftooseriouslyhere。
　　Thedifficultyoftheendisthemassofmattertobeattendedto，andthesmalltimelefttotransactitin。I
　　meanfromAlan’sdangerofarrest。ButIhavejustseenmywayout，Idobelieve。
　　EASTERSUNDAY。
　　Ihavenowgotasfarasslip28，andfinishedthechapterofthelawtechnicalities。Well，theseseemedtomealwaysoftheessenceofthestory，whichisthestoryofaCAUSE
　　CELEBRE；moreover，theyarethejustificationofmyinventions；ifthesemenwentsofargrantingDaviesprungonthemwouldtheynothavegonesomuchfurther？ButofcourseIknewtheywereadifficulty；determinedtocarrythemthroughinaconversation；approachedthisitseems
　　withcowardlyanxiety；andfilleditwithgabble，sir，gabble。Ihaveleftallmyfacts，buthaveremoved42lines。
　　IshouldnotwonderbutwhatI’llendbyre-writingit。Itisnotthetechnicalitiesthatshockedyou，itwasmybadart。ItisverystrangethatX。shouldbesogoodachapterandIX。andXI。souncompromisinglybad。ItlooksasifXI。
　　alsowouldhavetobere-formed。IfX。hadnotcheeredmeup，Ishouldbeindolefuldumps，butX。isaliveanyway，andlifeisallinall。
　　THURSDAY，APRIL5TH。
　　Well，there’snodisguisepossible；Fannyisnotwell，andwearemiserablyanxious。
　　FRIDAY，7TH。
　　Iamthankfultosaythenewmedicinerelievedheratonce。
　　Acrapehasbeenremovedfromthedayforallofus。Tomakethingsbetter，themorningisah！suchamorningasyouhaveneverseen；heavenuponearthforsweetness，freshness，depthupondepthofunimaginablecolour，andahugesilencebrokenatthismomentonlybythefar-awaymurmurofthePacificandtherichpipingofasinglebird。Youcan’tconceivewhatareliefthisis；itseemsanewworld。ShehassuchextraordinaryrecuperativepowerthatIdohopeforthebest。
　　Iamastiredasmancanbe。Thisisagreattrialtoafamily，andIthankGoditseemsasifourswasgoingtobearitwell。AndO！ifitonlyletsup，itwillbebutapleasantmemory。Weareallseedy，barLloyd:Fanny，asperabove；selfnearlyextinct；Belle，utterlyoverworkedandbadtoothache；Cook，downwithabadfoot；Butler，prostratewithabadleg。Eh，whatafaim’ly！
　　SUNDAY。
　　Greyheaven，rainingtorrentsofrain；occasionalthunderandlightning。Everythingtodispirit；butmyinvalidsarereallyonthemend。Therainroarslikethesea；inthesoundofitthereisastrangeandominoussuggestionofanapproachingtramp；somethingnamelessandmeasurelessseemstodrawnear，andstrikesmecold，andyetiswelcome。Iliequietinbedto-day，andthinkoftheuniversewithagooddealofequanimity。Ihave，atthismoment，buttheoneobjectiontoit；theFRACASwithwhichitproceeds。Idonotlovenoise；Iamlikemygrandfatherinthat；andsomanyyearsinthesestillislandshasingrainedthesentimentperhaps。Herearenotrains，onlymenpacingbarefoot。Nocartsorcarriages；atworsttherattleofahorse’sshoesamongtherocks。Beautifulsilence；andsosoonasthisrobustiousraintakesoff，Iamtodrinkofitagainbyoceanfuls。
　　APRIL16TH。
　　Severalpagesofthisletterdestroyedasbeneathscorn；thewailingsofacrushedworm；matterinwhichneitheryounorI
　　cantakestock。Fannyisdistinctlybetter，Ibelieveallrightnow；Itooammending，thoughIhavesufferedfromcrushedwormery，whichisnotgoodforthebody，anddamnationtothesoul。Ifeelto-nightabaselessanxietytowritealovelypoemAPROPOSDESBOTTESDEMAGRANDMERE。I
　　seeIamidiotic。I’lltrythepoem。
　　17TH。
　　Thepoemdidnotgetbeyondploversandlovers。Iamstill，however，harassedbytheunauthenticMuse；ifIcaredtoencourageher-butIhavenotthetime，andanywayweareatthevernalequinox。Itisfunnyenough，butmypotteringversesareusuallymadeliketheGod-giftedorganvoice’s
　　attheautumnal；andthisseemstoholdattheAntipodes。
　　ThereisheresomeoddsecretofNature。Icannotspeakofpolitics；wewaitandwonder。ItseemsthisispartlyaguessIdewon’ttaketheC。J。ship，unlesstheislandsaredisarmed；andthatEnglandhesitatesandholdsoff。Bymyownidea，stronglycorroboratedbySirGeorge，Iamwritingnomoreletters。ButIhaveputasmanyironsinagainstthisfollyofthedisarmingasIcouldmanage。Itdidnotreachmyearstillnearlytoolate。Whatarisktotake！
　　Whatanexpensetoincur！Andforhowpooragain！Apartfromthetreacheryofit。Mydearfellow，politicsisavileandabunglingbusiness。Iusedtothinkmeanlyoftheplumber；buthowheshinesbesidethepolitician！
　　THURSDAY。
　　Ageneral，steadyadvance；Fannyreallyquitechipperandjolly-selfontherapidmend，andwithmyeyeonFORESTS
　　thataretofall-andmyfingerontheaxe，whichwantsstoning。
　　SATURDAY，22。
　　Stillallforthebest；butIamhavingaheart-breakingtimeoverDAVID。Ihavenearlyallcorrected。ButhavetoconsiderTHEHEATHERONFIRE，THEWOODBYSILVERMILLS，andthelastchapter。Theyallseemtomeoffcolour；andIamnotfittobetterthemyet。Noproofhasbeensentofthetitle，contents，ordedication。
　　MYDEARCOLVIN，-To-dayearlyIsentdowntoMabenSecretaryofStateanoffertobringuppeoplefromMalie，keeptheminmyhouse，andbringthemdowndaybydayforsolongasthenegotiationshouldlast。Ihaveafavourableanswersofar。ThisIwouldnothavetried，hadnotoldSirGeorgeGreyputmeonmymettle；’Neverdespair，’washisword；and’Iamoneofthefewpeoplewhohavelivedlongenoughtoseehowtruethatis。’Well，thereuponIplungedin；andthethingmaydomegreatharm，butyetIdonotthinkso-forIthinkjealousywillpreventthetrialbeingmade。Andatanyrateitisanotherchanceforthisdistractedarchipelagoofchildren，satuponbyacliqueoffools。If，bythegiftofGod，Icando-Iamallowedtotrytodo-andsucceed:butno，theprospectistoobrighttobeentertained。
　　To-daywehadaridedowntoTanugamanono，andthenbythenewwoodpaths。Oneledustoabeautifulclearing，withfournativehouses；taro，yams，andthelike，excellentlyplanted，andoldFolau-’theSamoanJew’-sittingandwhistlingthereinhisnew-foundandwell-deservedwell-
　　being。ItwasagoodsighttoseeaSamoanthusbeforetheworld。Furtherup，onourwayhome，wesawtheworldclear，andthewidedieoftheshadowlyingbroad；wecamebutalittlefurther，andfoundinthebordersofthebushaBanyan。Itmusthavebeen150feetinheight；thetrunk，anditsacolytes，occupiedagreatspace；abovethat，inthepeaksofthebranches，quiteaforestoffernsandorchidswereset；andoverallagainthehugespreadoftheboughsroseagainstthebrightwest，andsenttheirshadowmilestotheeastward。Ihavenotoftenseenanythingmoresatisfyingthanthisvastvegetable。
　　SUNDAY。
　　Aheavenlydayagain！theworldalldeadsilence，savewhen，fromfardownbelowusinthewoods，comesupthecrepitationofthelittlewoodendrumthatbeatstochurch。Scarcealeafstirs；onlynowandagainagreat，coolgushofairthatmakesmypapersfly，andisgone-TheKingofSamoahasrefusedmyintercessionbetweenhimandMataafa；andIdonotdenythisisagoodriddancetomeofadifficultbusiness，inwhichImightverywellhavefailed。Whatelseistobedoneforthesesillyfolks？
　　MAY12TH。
　　AndthisiswhereIhadgotto，beforethemailarriveswith，Imustsay，arealgentlemanlyletterfromyourself。Sir，thatisthesortofletterIwant！Now，I’llmakemylittleproposal。IwillacceptCHILD’SPLAYandPAN’SPIPES。ThenI
　　wantPASTORAL，THEMANSE，THEISLET，leavingoutifyoulikealltheprefacialmatterandbeginningatI。ThentheportraitofRobertHunter，beginning’Whetherhewasoriginallybigorlittle，’andending’fearlessandgentle。’
　　SomuchforMEM。ANDPORTRAITS。BEGGARS，sectionsI。andII。，RANDOMMEMORIESII。，andLANTERNBEARERS；I’magreeable。
　　Thesearemyselections。Idon’tknowaboutPULVISETUMBRA
　　either，butmustleavethattoyou。Butjustwhatyouplease。
　　AboutDAVIEIelaboratelywrotelasttime，butstillDAVIEisnotdone；IamgrindingsinglyatTHEEBBTIDE，aswenowcalltheFARALLONE；themostofitwillgothismail。Aboutthefollowing，lettherebenomistake:IwillnotwritetheabstractofKIDNAPPED；writeitwhowill，Iwillnot。
　　Boccacciomusthavebeenacleverfellowtowritebothargumentandstory；Iamnot，ETJEMERECUSE。
　　WecallitTHEEBBTIDE:ATRIOANDQUARTETTE；butthatsecondarynameyoumaystrikeoutifitseemsdulltoyou。
　　Thebook，however，fallsintwohalves，whenthefourthcharacterappears。Iamonp。82ifyouwanttoknow，andexpecttofinishonIsuppose110orso；butitgoesslowly，asyoumayjudgefromthefactthatthisthreeweekspast，I
　　haveonlystruggledfromp。58top。82:twenty-fourpages，ETENCOREsuretoberewritten，intwenty-onedays。Thisisnoprize-taker；notmuchWaverleyNovelsaboutthis！