to Sidney Colvin

[Edinburgh, February 1876.]

MY DEAR COLVIN,—1st.  I have sent ‘Fontainebleau’ long ago, long ago.  And Leslie Stephen is worse than tepid about it—liked ‘some parts’ of it ‘very well,’ the son of Belial.  Moreover, he proposes to shorten it; and I, who want money, and money soon, and not glory and the illustration of the English language, I feel as if my poverty were going to consent.

2nd.  I’m as fit as a fiddle after my walk.  I am four inches bigger about the waist than last July!  There, that’s your prophecy did that.  I am on ‘Charles of Orleans’ now, but I don’t know where to send him.  Stephen obviously spews me out of his mouth, and I spew him out of mine, so help me!  A man who doesn’t like my ‘Fontainebleau’!  His head must be turned.

3rd.  If ever you do come across my ‘Spring’ (I beg your pardon for referring to it again, but I don’t want you to forget) send it off at once.

4th.  I went to Ayr, Maybole, Girvan, Ballantrae, Stranraer, Glenluce, and Wigton.  I shall make an article of it some day soon, ‘A Winter’s Walk in Carrick and Galloway.’  I had a good time.—Yours,

R. L S.