o, I perceive; she has picked out the finest habitable spot
in Britain.

I have done no work, and scarce written a letter for three weeks, but I
think I should soon begin again; my cough is now very trifling. I eat
well, and seem to have lost but little flesh in the meanwhile. I was
_wonderfully_ well before I caught this horrid cold. I never thought I
should have been as well again; I really enjoyed life and work; and, of
course, I now have a good hope that this may return.

I suppose you heard of our ghost stories. They are somewhat delayed by
my cold and a bad attack of laziness, embroidery, etc., under which
Fanny had been some time prostrate. It is horrid that we can get no
better weather. I did not get such good accounts of you as might have
been. You must imitate me. I am now one of the most conscientious people
at trying to get better you ever saw. I have a white hat, it is much
admired; also a plaid, and a heavy stoop; so I take my walks abroad,
witching the world.

Last night I was beaten at chess, and am still grinding under the
blow.--Ever your faithful friend,

R. L. S.

TO EDMUND GOSSE

_The Cottage (late the late Miss M'Gregor's), Castleton of Braemar,
August 10, 1881._

MY DEAR GOSSE,--Come on the 24th, there is a dear fellow. Everybody else
wants to come later, and it will be a godsend for, sir--Yours sincerely.

You can stay as long as you behave decently, and are not sick of,
sir--Your obedient, humble servant.

We have family worship in the home of, sir--Yours respectfully.

Braemar is a fine country, but nothing to (what you will also see) the
maps of, sir--Yours in the Lord.

A carriage and two spanking hacks draw up daily at the hour of two
before the house of, sir--Yours truly.

The rain rains and the winds do beat upon the cottage of the late Miss
Macgregor and of, sir--Yours affectionately.

It is to be trusted that the weather may improve ere you know the halls
of, sir--Yours emphatically.

All will be glad to welcome you, not excepting, sir--Yours ever.

You will now have gathered the lamentable intellectual collapse of,
sir--Yours indeed.

And nothing remains for me but to sign myself, sir--Yours,

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.

_N.B._--Each of these clauses has to be read with extreme glibness,
coming down whack upon the "Sir." This is very important. The fine
stylistic inspiration will else be lost.

I commit the man who made, the man who sold, a