to the Chief Justice.

I see in looking up Longman's letter that it was as usual the
letter of an obliging gentleman; so do not trouble him with
my reminder. I wish all my publishers were not so nice. And
I have a fourth and a fifth baying at my heels; but for
these, of course, they must go wanting.


DEC. 2ND.


No answer from the Chief Justice, which is like him, but
surely very wrong in such a case. The lunch bell! I have
been off work, playing patience and weeding all morning.
Yesterday and the day before I drafted eleven and revised
nine pages of Chapter V., and the truth is, I was extinct by
lunch-time, and played patience sourly the rest of the day.
To-morrow or next day I hope to go in again and win. Lunch
2nd Bell.


DEC. 2ND, AFTERNOON.


I have kept up the idleness; blew on the pipe to Belle's
piano; then had a ride in the forest all by my nainsel; back
and piped again, and now dinner nearing. Take up this sheet
with nothing to say. The weird figure of Faauma is in the
room washing my windows, in a black lavalava (kilt) with a