shrink on the margin, and go on chattering to you. This last
part will be much less offensive (strange to say) to the
Germans. It is Becker they will never forgive me for; Knappe
I pity and do not dislike; Becker I scorn and abominate.
Here is the tableau. I. Elements of Discord: Native. II.
Elements of Discord: Foreign. III. The Sorrows of Laupepa.
IV. Brandeis. V. The Battle of Matautu. VI. Last Exploits
of Becker. VII. The Samoan Camps. VIII. Affairs of Lautii
and Fangalii. IX. 'FUROR CONSULARIS.' X. The Hurricane.
XI. Stuebel Recluse. XII. The Present Government. I
estimate the whole roughly at 70,000 words. Should anybody
ever dream of reading it, it would be found amusing.
70000/300=233 printed pages; a respectable little five-bob
volume, to bloom unread in shop windows. After that, I'll
have a spank at fiction. And rest? I shall rest in the
grave, or when I come to Italy. If only the public will
continue to support me! I lost my chance not dying; there
seems blooming little fear of it now. I worked close on five
hours this morning; the day before, close on nine; and unless
I finish myself off with this letter, I'll have another hour
and a half, or AIBLINS TWA, before dinner. Poor man, how you
must envy me, as you hear of these orgies of work, and you
scarce able for a letter. But Lord, Colvin, how lucky the
situations are not reversed, for I have no situation, nor am
fit for any. Life is a steigh brae. Here, have at Knappe,
and no more clavers!


3RD.