to Charles Baxter

[April, 1893.]

. . . About The Justice-Clerk, I long to go at it, but will first try to get a short story done.  Since January I have had two severe illnesses, my boy, and some heart-breaking anxiety over Fanny; and am only now convalescing.  I came down to dinner last night for the first time, and that only because the service had broken down, and to relieve an inexperienced servant.  Nearly four months now I have rested my brains; and if it be true that rest is good for brains, I ought to be able to pitch in like a giant refreshed.  Before the autumn, I hope to send you some Justice-Clerk, or Weir of Hermiston, as Colvin seems to prefer; I own to indecision.  Received Syntax, Dance of Death, and Pitcairn, which last I have read from end to end since its arrival, with vast improvement.  What a pity it stops so soon!  I wonder is there nothing that seems to prolong the series?  Why doesn’t some young man take it up?  How about my old friend Fountainhall’s Decisions?  I remember as a boy that there was some good reading there.  Perhaps you could borrow me that, and send it on loan; and perhaps Laing’s Memorials therewith; and a work I’m ashamed to say I have never read, Balfour’s Letters. . . . I have come by accident, through a correspondent, on one very curious and interesting fact—namely, that Stevenson was one of the names adopted by the MacGregors at the proscription.  The details supplied by my correspondent are both convincing and amusing; but it would be highly interesting to find out more of this.

R. L. S.