Raw Haste Half Sister to Delay.
Dear Mr. Burlingame,—1. Enclosed please find another paper.
2. There will be another severe engagement over the Master; a large part will have to be rehandled. I am very sorry; but you see what comes of my trying to hurry. As soon as I have got a bit ahead again with the papers I shall tackle this job. I am better; my wife also.—Yours sincerely,
R. L. S.
P.S., and a P.S. with a vengeance.—Pray send me the tale of the proof if already printed—if not, then the tale of the MS.—and—throw the type down. I will of course bear the expense. I am going to recast the whole thing in the third person; this version is one large error. Keep standing, however, the Chevalier's narration, as I may leave that in the first person.
R. L. S.
Monday.
To yesterday's two barrels I add two requests. 1st. Will you let the cost of the printing stand over against the Master, as otherwise I may be involved in 'pecuniary embarrassments'? And that, sir, is no joke. 2nd. Will you send me (from the library) some of the works of my dear old G. P. R. James. With the following specially I desire to make or to renew acquaintance: The Songster, The Gypsy, The Convict, The Stepmother, The Gentleman of the Old School, The Robber.
Excusez du peu.
This sudden return to an ancient favorite hangs upon an accident. The 'Franklin County Library' contains two works of his, The Cavalier and Morley Einstein. I read the first with indescribable amusement—it was worse than I feared, and yet somehow engaging; the second (to my surprise) was better than I dared to hope: a good, honest, dull, interesting tale, with a genuine old-fashioned talent in the invention when not strained; and a genuine old-fashioned feeling for the English language. This experience awoke appetite, and you see I have taken steps to stay it.