My dear Ernest,
... I know that you will be sorry to learn that things have not gone well with me. All this summer I have been feeling vaguely unwell and, latterly, losing strength steadily.... However, the rigorous treatment, the potent Saline and Sulphur waters and baths, the not less potent and marvellously pure and regenerative Llandrindod air—and my own exceptional vitality and recuperative powers—have combined to work a wonderful change for the better; which may prove to be more than “a splendid rally,” tho’ I know I must not be too sanguine. Fortunately, the eventuality does not much trouble me, either way: I have lived, and am content, and it is only for what I don’t want to leave undone that the sound of ‘Farewell’ has anything deeply perturbing.
W. S.
And later to Mrs. Janvier:
London, Sept. 30, 1903.
Thanks for your loving note. But you are not to worry yourself about me. I’m all right, and as cheerful as a lark—let us say as a lark with a rheumatic wheeze in its little song-box, or gout in its little off-claw.... Anyway, I’ll laugh and be glad and take life as I find it, till the end. The best prayer for me is that I may live vividly till “Finis,” and work up to the last hour....
My love to you both, and know me ever your irrepressible,
Billy.
In a letter to Mr. Alden (Aug. 25th, 1903) he describes the work he had on hand at the moment, and the book he had projected and hoped to write:
“ ... in the Pall Mall Magazine you may have noticed a series of topographical papers (with as much or more of anecdotal and reminiscent and critical) contributed, under the title of “Literary Geography,” by myself. The first three were commissioned by the editor to see how they ‘took.’ They were so widely liked, and those that followed, that this summer he commissioned me to write a fresh series, one each month till next March. Of these none has been more appreciated than the double article on the Literary Geography of the Lake of Geneva. Forthcoming issues are The English Lake Country, Meredith, Thackery, The Thames, etc. In the current issue I deal with Stevenson.