makingmysituationdifficultinApia。Abouteleven，theflagswereallhalf-masted；itwasoldCaptainHamiltonSamesonithenativescalledhimwhohadpassedaway。IntheeveningIwalkedroundtotheU。S。Consulate；itwasalovelynightwithafullmoon；andasIgotroundtothehotcornerofMatautuIheardhymnsinfront。Thebalconyofthedeadman’shousewasfullofwomensinging；Marythewidow，anativesatonachairbythedoorstep，andIwassetbesideheronabench，andnexttoPaulthecarpenter；asI
satdownIhadaglimpseoftheoldcaptain，wholayinasheetonhisowntable。Afterthehymnwasover，anativepastormadeaspeechwhichlastedalongwhile；thelightpouredoutofthedoorandwindows；thegirlsweresittingclusteredatmyfeet；itwaschokinghot。Afterthespeechwasended，Marycarriedmewithin；thecaptain’shandswerefoldedonhisbosom，hisfaceandheadwerecomposed；helookedasifhemightspeakatanymoment；Ihaveneverseenthiskindofwaxworksoexpressormorevenerable；andwhenI
wentaway，Iwasconsciousofacertainenvyforthemanwhowasoutofthebattle。Allnightitraninmyhead，andthenextdaywhenwesightedTutuila，andranintothisbeautifulland-lockedlochofPagoPagowhenceIwrite，CaptainHamilton’sfoldedhandsandquietfacesaidagreatdealmoretomethanthescenery。
Iamlivinghereinatrader’shouse；wehaveagoodtable，Sewalldoingthingsinstyle；andIhopetobenefitbythechange，andpossiblygetmorestuffforLetters。Inthemeanwhile，IamseizedquiteMAL-A-PROPOSwithdesiretowriteastory，THEBLOODYWEDDING，foundedonfact-verypossiblytrue，beinganattempttoreadamurdercase-notyetmonthsold，inthisveryplaceandhousewhereInowwrite。Theindiscretioniswhatstopsme；butifIkeeponfeelingasIfeeljustnowitwillhavetobewritten。ThreeStarNettison，KitNettison，FieldtheSailor，thesearethemaincharacters:oldNettison，andthecaptainofthemanofwar，thesecondary。Possiblescenario。ChapterI……
MYDEARCOLVIN，-IgotbackonMondaynight，aftertwenty-
threehoursinanopenboat；thekeyswerelost；theConsulwhohadpromisedusabottleofBurgundynoblybrokeopenhisstore-room，andwegottobedaboutmidnight。NextmorningtheblessedConsulpromisedushorsesforthedaybreak；forgotallaboutit，worthyman；setusoffatlastintheheatoftheday，andbyashortcutwhichcausedinfinitetrouble，andwewerenothometilldinner。Iwasextenuated，andhavehadahighfeversince，orshouldhavebeenwritingbefore。To-dayforthefirsttime，Iriskit。
TuesdayIwasprettybad；Wednesdayhadafevertokillahorse；ThursdayIwasbetter，butstilloutofabilitytodoaughtbutreadawfultrash。Thisisthetimeonemissescivilisation；Iwishedtosendoutforsomepolicenovels；
Montepinwouldhaveaboutsuitedmyfrozenbrain。Itisabotherwhenallone’sthoughtturnsonone’sworkinsomesenseorother；couldnoteventhinkyesterday；Itooktoinventingdishesbywayofentertainment。Yesterday，while
layasleepintheafternoon，averyluckythinghappened；theChiefJusticecametocall；metoneofouremployesontheroad；andwasshownwhatIhaddonetotheroad。
’Isthistheroadacrosstheisland？’heasked。
’Theonlyone，’saidInnes。
’Andhasonemandoneallthis？’
’Threetimes，’saidthetrustyInnes。’Ithashadtobemadethreetimes，andwhenMr。Stevensoncame，itwasatracklikewhatyouseebeyond。’
’Thismustbeputright，’saidtheChiefJustice。
SUNDAY。
Thetruthis，IbrokedownyesterdayalmostassoonasI
began，andhavebeensurreptitiouslyfinishingtheentryto-
day。ForallthatIwasmuchbetter，ateallthetime，andhadnofever。Thedaywasotherwiseuneventful。Iamreminded；IhadanothervisitoronFriday；andFannyandLloyd，astheyreturnedfromaforestraid，metinourdesert，untroddenroad，firstFatherDidier，KeeperoftheconscienceofMataafa，therisingstar；andnexttheChiefjustice，solestayofLaupepa，thepresentandunsteadystar，andremember，afewdaysbeforewewereclosetothesickbedandentertainedbytheamateurphysicianofTamasese，thelateandsunkenstar。’Thatisthefunofthisplace，’
observedLloyd；’everybodyyoumeetissoimportant。’
Everybodyisalsosogloomy。Itwillcometowaragain，istheopinionofallthewellinformed-andbeforethattomanybankruptcies；andafterthat，asusual，tofamine。
Here，underthemicroscope，wecanseehistoryatwork。
WEDNESDAY。
Ihavebeenveryneglectful。Areturntowork，perhapspremature，butnecessary，hasusedupallmypossibleenergiesandmademeacquaintedwiththelivingheadache。I
justjotdownsomeofthepastnotabilia。YesterdayB。，acarpenter，andK。，myunsuccessfulwhiteman，wereabsentallmorningfromtheirwork；Iwasworkingmyself，whereI
heareverysoundwithmorbidcertainty，andIcantestifythatnotahammerfell。UponinquiryIfoundtheyhadpassedthemorningmakingicewithouricemachineandtakingthehorizonwithaspiritlevel！Ihadnosoonerheardthisthan-aviolentheadachesetin；Iamarealemployeroflabournow，andhavemuchoftheshipcaptainwhenaroused；andifI
hadaheadache，Ibelieveboththesegentlemenhadachinghearts。Ipromiseyou，thelate-wastothefront；andK。，whowasthemostguilty，yetinasensetheleastblameable，havingthebrainsandcharacterofacanary-bird，farednonethebetterforB。’srepartees。Ihearthemhardatworkthismorning，sothemenacemaybeblessed。Itwasjustaftermydinner，justbeforetheirs，thatIadministeredmyredoubtabletongue-itisreallyredoubtable-totheseskulkersPaulusedtotriumphoverMr。J。forweeks。’Iamverysorryforyou，’hewouldsay；’you’regoingtohaveatalkwithMr。Stevensonwhenhecomeshome:youdon’tknowwhatthatis！’Infact，noneofthemdo，tilltheygetit。
IhaveknownK。，forinstance，formonths；hehasneverheardmecomplain，ortakenotice，unlessitweretopraise；Ihaveusedhimalwaysasmyguest，andthereseemstobesomethinginmyappearancewhichsuggestsendless，ovinelong-
suffering！Wesatintheupperverandahallevening，anddiscussedthepriceofironroofing，andthestateofthedraught-horses，withInnes，anewmanwehavetaken，andwhoseemstopromisewell。
Onethingembarrassesme。Nooneeverseemstounderstandmyattitudeaboutthatbook；thestuffsentwasnevermeantforotherthanafirststate；Inevermeantittoappearasabook。KnowingwellthatIhaveneverhadonehourofinspirationsinceitwasbegun，andhaveonlybeatenoutmymetalbybruteforceandpatientrepetition，Ihopedsomedaytogeta’spateofstyle’andburnishit-finemixedmetaphor。IamnowsosickthatIintend，whentheLettersaredoneandsomemorewrittenthatwillbewanted，simplytomakeabookofitbythepruning-knife。
Icannotfightlonger；IamsensibleofhavingdoneworsethanIhoped，worsethanIfeared；allIcandonowistodothebestIcanforthefuture，andclearthebook，likeapieceofbush，withaxeandcutlass。EventoproducetheMS。
ofthiswilloccupyme，atthemostfavourableopinion，tillthemiddleofnextyear；reallyfiveyearswerewanting，whenIcouldhavemadeabook；butIhaveafamily，and-perhapsIcouldnotmakethebookafterall。
MYDEARCOLVIN，-Ibeginagain。Iwasawakethismorningabouthalf-pastfour。Itwasstillnight，butImademyfire，whichisalwaysadelightfulemployment，andreadLockhart’s’Scott’untilthedaybegantopeep。Itwasabeautifulandsoberdawn，adove-coloureddawn，insensiblybrighteningtogold。Iwaslookingatitsomewhileoverthedown-hillprofileofoureasternroad，whenIchancedtoglancenorthward，andsawwithextraordinarypleasurethesealyingoutspread。Itseemedassmoothasglass，andyetI
knewthesurfwasroaringallalongthereef，andindeed，ifIhadlistened，Icouldhaveheardit-andsawthewhitesweepofitoutsideMatautu。
Iamoutofconditionstill，andcandonothing，andtoiltobeatmypen，andseesomeinkbehindme。IhavetakenupagainTHEHIGHWOODSOFULUFANUA。Istillthinkthefabletoofantasticandfar-fetched。But，onare-reading，fellinlovewithmyfirstchapter，andforgoodorevilImustfinishit。Itisreallygood，wellfedwithfacts，truetothemanners，andforonceinmyworksrenderedpleasingbythepresenceofaheroinewhoispretty。MissUmaispretty；
afact。Allmyotherwomenhavebeenasuglyassin，andlikeFalconet’shorseIhavejustbeenreadingtheanecdoteinLockhart，MORTESforbye。
News:Ouroldhouseisnowhalfdemolished；itistoberebuiltonanewsite；nowwelookdownuponandthroughtheopenpostsofitlikeabird-cage，tothewoodsbeyond。MypoorPaulohaslosthisfatherandsucceededtothirtythousandthalersIthink；hehadtogodowntotheConsulateyesterdaytosendalegalpaper；gotdrunk，ofcourse，andisstillthismorninginsobemusedaconditionthatourbreakfastsallwentwrong。Lafaeleisabsentatthedeathbedofhisfairspouse；fairshewas，butnotindeed，actingasharlottothewreckersatworkonthewarships，towhichsocietysheprobablyowesherend，havingfallenoffacliff，orbeenthrustoffit-INTERPOCULA。Henryisthesame，ourstand-by。InthistransitionstagehehasbeenlivinginApia；buttheothernighthestayedup，andsatwithusaboutthechimneyinmyroom。Itwasthefirsttimehehadseenafireinahearth；hecouldnotlookatitwithoutsmiles，andwasalwaysanxioustoputonanotherstick。Weentertainedhimwiththefairytalesofcivilisation-theatres，London，blocksinthestreet，Universities，theUnderground，newspapers，etc。，andprojectedoncemorehisvisittoSydney。Ifwecanmanage，itwillbenextChristmas。IseeitwillbeimpossibleformetoaffordafurtherjourneyTHISwinter。Wehavespentsincewehavebeenhereabout2500pounds，whichisnotmuchifyouconsiderwehavebuiltonthatthreehouses，oneofthemofsomesize，andaconsiderablestable，madetwomilesofroadsomethreetimes，clearedmanyacresofbush，madesomemilesofpath，plantedquantitiesoffood，andenclosedahorsepaddockandsomeacresofpigrun；but’tisagooddealofmoneyregardedsimplyasmoney。K。isbosh；Ihavenouseforhim；butwemustdowhatwecanwiththefellowmeanwhile；heisgood-humouredandhonest，butinefficient，idlehimself，thecauseofidlenessinothers，grumbling，aself-excuser-allthefaultsinabundle。Heowesusthirtyweeks’service-thewretchedPaulabouthalfasmuch。Henryisalmosttheonlyoneofouremployeswhohasacredit。
Well，amIashamedofmyself？Idonotthinkso。IhavebeenhammeringLetterseversince，andgotthreereadyandafourthabouthalfthrough；allfourwillgobythemail，whichiswhatIwish，forsoIkeepatleastmystart。Daysanddaysofunprofitablestubbinganddigging，andtheresultstillpoorasliterature，left-handed，heavy，unillumined，butIbelievereadableandinterestingasmatter。Ithasbeennojokeofahardtime，andwhenmytaskwasdone，Ihadlittletasteforanythingbutblowingonthepipe。Afewnecessarylettersfilledthebowltooverflowing。
Mymotherhasarrived，young，well，andingoodspirits。Bydesperateexertions，whichhavewhollyflooredFanny，herroomwasreadyforher，andthedining-roomfittoeatin。
Itwasafamousvictory。Lloydnevertoldmeofyourportraittillafewdaysago；fortunately，Ihadnopictureshungyet；andthespaceovermychimneywaitsyourcounterfeitpresentment。Ihavenotoftenheardanythingthatpleasedmemore；yoursevereheadshallfrownuponmeandkeepmetothemark。Butwhyhasitnotcome？HaveyoubeenasforgetfulasLloyd？
Miserablecomfortersareyeall！Ireadyouresteemedpagesthismorningbylamplightandtheglimmerofthedawn，andassoonasbreakfastwasover，Imustturntoandtacklethesedespisedlabours！Somecouragewasnecessary，butnotwanting。ThereisonethingatleastbywhichIcanavengemyselfformydrubbing，forononepointyouseemimpenetrablystupid。CanIfindnoformofwordswhichwillatlastconveytoyourintelligencethefactthatTHESE
LETTERSWERENEVERMEANT，ANDARENOTNOWMEANT，TOBEOTHER
THANAQUARRYOFMATERIALSFROMWHICHTHEBOOKMAYBEDRAWN？
Thereseemssomethingincommunicableinthistomesimpleidea；IknowLloydfailedtocomprehendit，Idoubtifhehasgraspeditnow；andIdespair，afteralltheseefforts，thatyoushouldeverbeenlightened。Still，obligemebyreadingthatformofwordsoncemore，andseeifalightdoesnotbreak。Youmaybesure，afterthefriendlyfreedomsofyourcriticismnecessaryIamsure，andwholesomeIknow，butuntimelytothepoorlabourerinhislandslipthatmightylittleofitwillstand。
OurPaulhascomeintoafortune，andwishestogohometotheHieGermanie。Thisisatileonourhead，andifashower，whichisnowfalling，letsup，ImustgodowntoApia，andseeifIcanfindasubstituteofanykind。Thisis，fromanypointofview，disgusting；aboveall，fromthatofwork；for，whatevertheresult，themillhastobekeptturning；apparentlydust，andnotflour，istheproceed。