the absence of Bob; and this damned weather weighs on me like a
curse. Yesterday, or the day before, there came so black a rain
squall that I was frightened - what a child would call frightened,
you know, for want of a better word - although in reality it has
nothing to do with fright. I lit the gas and sat cowering in my
chair until it went away again. - Ever yours,

R. L. S.

O I am trying my hand at a novel just now; it may interest you to
know, I am bound to say I do not think it will be a success.
However, it's an amusement for the moment, and work, work is your
only ally against the 'bearded people' that squat upon their hams
in the dark places of life and embrace people horribly as they go
by. God save us from the bearded people! to think that the sun is
still shining in some happy places!

R. L S.



Letter: TO MRS SITWELL



[EDINBURGH, JANUARY 1876.]

. . . OUR weather continues as it was, bitterly cold, and raining
often. There is not much pleasure in life certainly as it stands
at present. NOUS N'IRONS PLUS AU BOSS, HELAS!