comfortably enough
writing a long chapter of my book; then went to a masked ball
blacked up as Uncle Remus, taking Clara along, and we had a good
time. I have lost no day since, and suffered no discomfort to speak
of, but drove my troubles out of my mind and had good success in
keeping them out--through watchfulness. I have done a good week's
work and put the book a good way ahead in the Great Trial [of Joan],
which is the difficult part: the part which requires the most
thought and carefulness. I cannot see the end of the Trial yet, but
I am on the road. I am creeping surely toward it.

"Why not leave them all to me?" My business brothers? I take you by
the hand! I jump at the chance!

I ought to be ashamed and I am trying my best to be ashamed--and yet
I do jump at the chance in spite of it. I don't want to write
Irving and I don't want to write Stoker. It doesn't seem as if I
could. But I can suggest something for you to write them; and then
if you see that I am unwise you can write them something quite
different. Now this is my idea:

1. To return Stoker's $100 to him and keep his stock.

2. And tell Irving that when luck turns with me I will make
good to him what the salvage from the dead Co. fails to pay him
of his $500.

[P. S. Madam says No, I must face the music. So I inclose my
effort--to be used if you approve, but not otherwise.]

We shall try to find a tenant for our Hartford house; not an easy
matter, for it costs heavily to live in. We can never live in it
again; though it would break the family's hearts if they could
believe it.

Nothing daunts Mrs. Clemens or makes the world look black to her
--which is the reason I haven't drowned myself.

I got the Xmas journals which you sent and I thank you for that Xmas
remembrance.

We all send our deepest and warmest greetings to you and all of
yours and a Happy New Year!

S. L. CLEMENS.
--[Brain Stoker and Sir Henry Irving had each taken a small interest in
the machine. The inclosure for Stoker ran as follows:]

MY DEAR STOKER,--I am not dating this, because it is not to be
mailed at present.

When it reaches you it will mean that there is a hitch in my machine
enterprise--a hitch so serious as to make it take to itself the
aspect of a dissolved dream. This letter