will not. Boccaccio must have been a clever fellow to
write both argument and story; I am not, _et je me recuse_.

We call it _The Ebb Tide: a Trio and Quartette_; but that secondary name
you may strike out if it seems dull to you. The book, however, falls in
two halves, when the fourth character appears. I am on p. 82 if you want
to know, and expect to finish on I suppose 110 or so; but it goes
slowly, as you may judge from the fact that this three weeks past, I
have only struggled from p. 58 to p. 82: twenty-four pages, _et encore_
sure to be re-written, in twenty-one days. This is no prize-taker; not
much Waverley Novels about this!

_May 16th._--I believe it will be ten chapters of _The Ebb Tide_ that go
to you; the whole thing should be completed in I fancy twelve; and the
end will follow punctually next mail. It is my great wish that this
might get into The Illustrated London News for Gordon Browne to
illustrate. For whom, in case he should get the job, I give you a few
notes. A purao is a tree giving something like a fig with flowers. He
will find some photographs of an old marine curiosity shop in my
collection, which may help him. Attwater's settlement is to be entirely
overshadowed everywhere by tall palms; see photographs of Fakarava: the
verandahs of the house are 12 ft. wide. Don't let him forget the Figure
Head, for which I have a great use in the last chapter. It stands just
clear of the palms on the crest of the beach at the head of the pier;
the flag-staff not far off; the pier he will understand is perhaps three
feet above high water, not more at any price. The sailors of the
_Farallone_ are to be dressed like white sailors of course. For other
things, I remit this excellent artist to my photographs.

I can't think what to say about the tale, but it seems to me to go off
with a considerable bang; in fact, to be an extraordinary work: but
whether popular! Attwater is a no end of a courageous attempt, I think
you will admit; how far successful is another affair. If my island ain't
a thing of beauty, I'll be damned. Please observe Wiseman and Wishart;
for incidental grimness, they strike me as in it. Also, kindly observe
the Captain and _Adar_; I think that knocks spots. In short, as you see,
I'm a trifle vainglorious. But O, it has been such a grind! The devil
himself would allow a man to brag a little after such a crucifixion! And
indeed I'm only bragging for a change before I return to the darned
th