pleasure to gird at me. The laws of nature are in open war with
me. The wheel of a dog-cart took the toes off my new boots. Gout
has set in with extreme rigour, and cut me out of the cheap
refreshment of beer. I leant my back against an oak, I thought it
was a trusty tree, but first it bent, and syne - it lost the Spirit
of Springtime, and so did Professor Sidney Colvin, Trinity College,
to me. - Ever yours,

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.

Along with this, I send you some P.P.P's; if you lose them, you
need not seek to look upon my face again. Do, for God's sake,
answer me about them also; it is a horrid thing for a fond
architect to find his monuments received in silence. - Yours,

R. L. S.



Letter: TO MRS. SITWELL



[EDINBURGH, NOVEMBER 12, 1875.]

MY DEAR FRIEND, - Since I got your letter I have been able to do a
little more work, and I have been much better contented with
myself; but I can't get away, that is absolutely prevented by the
state of my purse and my debts, which, I may say, are red like
crimson. I don't know how I am to clear my hands of them, nor