In March and April of 1883 I wrote one of the most interesting of all my Scotch novels. I began it on March twenty-fifth, and finished it on the thirtieth of April. I worked on it nine hours every day excepting four days when I only wrote eight hours. During this same time I wrote the following for Robert Bonner and Harper’s:
Mar. 25th. Finished my long paper on famous Irish women and began my novel, “Cluny MacPherson.”
Mar. 26th. At home all day writing on “Cluny MacPherson.”
Mar. 27th. Ditto.
Mar. 28th. Writing on “Cluny” all morning. Went down to several offices in afternoon. Did nothing in the evening. Had a bad headache.
Mar. 29th. Very sick headache, but wrote “Cato’s Song.”
Mar. 30th. At the last hour wrote “Two Workers” for Bonner, and he praised it very much, a great thing for him to do.
Mar. 31st. Very sick. Went to the dentist’s but could not have anything done.
April 1st. Wrote an “April Wedding” and worked on “Cluny.”