. Kindled big fire, neighbouring
village. When English soldiers marched forth to put fire out, jumped on
them and killed the lot. Stuffed bodies into dungeon of castle at
Irvine. Called 'Wallace Larder' after that. Nasty larders people had in
those days. Read up account Douglas Larder. Compare the two. See which
worse. Why not call Barns of Ayr Wallace Oven? Read up Blind Harry for
picturesque story Barns of Ayr. Far as I remember, English enticed all
neighbouring Scots to powwow of some sort. Wallace expected; delay on
way. Scots executed on some pretext. When Wallace turned up, niece
warned him. He routed up few followers, set fire to barns and burnt
English, who were celebrating triumph over Wallace and his men. When get
to Ayr look this up further.... Word 'Whig' comes first from Ayr. Wonder
why? Look up. Also get Burns glossary. Dialect difficult. Aline won't
read Burns. Fear she's going to fail in this book. Thinks only of one
thing. But no matter. Courage, mon brave!

"Sunday. Had batch bad notices of last book from America. Aline gone to
bed with headache as usual after bad reviews. Says we must economize.
She'll forget when we start and want best suites of rooms with baths
everywhere. I _know_ that book was good. Hang notices! Understand so
well what Job meant when said, 'Oh, that mine enemy would write a book!'
He wanted to criticise it. Each new boil would suggest scathing epithet.

"Monday. Everything changed. Old plot exploded in thousand pieces.
Mustn't be honeymoon couple. Heroine radiant young girl, eighteen, hair
red as Circe's, eyes of new-born angel, comes like bombshell into hero's
life. Not good simile, bombshell. Query, hero. Would she fall in love
with man of B. N.'s type? I see another type more probable, but don't
want that.

"August 4th. Fearful row. General upset. Don't see any book unless I
write it alone. Aline says I can save situation for her. Would like only
too well do what she wants, but difficult bring it off as things are.
Chances in favour of other man. Temptation consent be cat's-paw. Is that
fair to the lovely chestnut in the fire? Extra-ordinary that child like
this can so upset us all. What is the electric attraction we can't
resist? More than normal amount of radium, perhaps!"

"Well, why don't you laugh at the rattle of the dry bones?" asked Basil,
as I read on, more and more puzzled.

"I haven't come to many funny things yet," said I, "except about Job.
That was rather go