liberal, at least, as per last advices;
certainly very friendly and eager, which makes work light, like
whistling. I wish I was with the rest of--well, of us--in the red books.
But I am glad to get a whack at Hazlitt, howsoe'er.

How goes your Gray? I would not change with you; brother! Gray would
never be suited to my temperament, while Hazlitt fits me like a glove.

I hope in your studies in Young Folks you did not miss the delicious
reticences, the artistic concealments, and general fine-shade
graduation, through which the fact of the Xmas Nr. being 3d. was
instilled--too strong--inspired into the mind of the readers. It was
superb.

I may add as a postscript: I wish to God I or anybody knew what was the
matter with my wife.--Yours ever,

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.

TO SIDNEY COLVIN

[_Chalet am Stein, Davos-Platz, March 1882._]

MY DEAR COLVIN,--Herewith _Moral Emblems_. The elephant by Fanny--the
rest by me.

I would have sent it long ago. But I must explain. I brought home with
me from my bad times in America two strains of unsoundness of mind, the
first, a perpetual fear that I can do no more work--the second, a
perpetual fear that my friends have quarrelled with me.[43] This last
long silence of yours drove me into really believing it, and I dared not
write to you.

Well, it's ancient history now, and here are the emblems. A second
series is in the press.

_Silverado_ is still unfinished; but I think I have done well on the
whole, as you say. I shall be home, I hope, sometime in May, perhaps
before; it depends on Fanny's health, which is still far from good and
often alarms me. I shall then see your collectanea. I shall not put pen
to paper till I settle somewhere else; Hazlitt had better simmer awhile.
I have to see Ireland too, who has most kindly written to me and invited
me to see his collections.

Symonds grows much on me: in many ways, what you would least expect, a
very sound man, and very wise in a wise way. It is curious how F. and I
always turn to him for advice: we have learned that his advice is
good.--Yours ever,

R. L. S.

TO ALISON CUNNINGHAM

[_Chalet am Stein, Davos-Platz, February 1882._]

MY DEAR CUMMY,--My wife and I are very much vexed to hear you are still
unwell. We are both keeping far better; she especially seems quite to
have taken a turn--_the_ turn, we shall hope. Please let us know how you
get on, and what has been the matter wit