es,
yet owned it to have been his crowning favour
TO INHABIT
LA SOLITUDE.

(with the consent of the intelligent edility of Hyeres, he has been
interred, below this frugal stone, in the garden which he honoured for
so long with his poetic presence.)

I must write more solemn letters. Adieu. Write.

R. L. S.

TO MRS. MILNE

This is to a cousin who had been one of his favourite playmates in
childhood, and had recognised some allusions in the proof slips of
the _Child's Garden_ (the piece called _A Pirate Story_).

_La Solitude, Hyeres [November 1883]._

MY DEAR HENRIETTA,--Certainly; who else would they be? More by token, on
that particular occasion, you were sailing under the title of Princess
Royal; I, after a furious contest, under that of Prince Alfred; and
Willie, still a little sulky, as the Prince of Wales. We were all in a
buck basket about half-way between the swing and the gate; and I can
still see the Pirate Squadron heave in sight upon the weather bow.

I wrote a piece besides on Giant Bunker; but I was not happily inspired,
and it is condemned. Perhaps I'll try again; he was a horrid fellow,
Giant Bunker! and some of my happiest hours were passed in pursuit of
him. You were a capital fellow to play: how few there were who could!
None better than yourself. I shall never forget some of the days at
Bridge of Allan; they were one golden dream. See "A Good Boy" in the
_Penny Whistles_, much of the sentiment of which is taken direct from
one evening at B. of A. when we had had a great play with the little
Glasgow girl. Hallowed be that fat book of fairy tales! Do you remember
acting the Fair One with Golden Locks? What a romantic drama! Generally
speaking, whenever I think of play, it is pretty certain that you will
come into my head. I wrote a paper called _Child's Play_ once, where, I
believe, you or Willie would recognise things....

Surely Willie is just the man to marry; and if his wife wasn't a happy
woman, I think I could tell her who was to blame. Is there no word of
it? Well, these things are beyond arrangement; and the wind bloweth
where it listeth--which, I observe, is generally towards the west in
Scotland. Here it prefers a south-easterly course, and is called the
Mistral--usually with an adjective in front. But if you will remember my
yesterday's toothache and this morning's crick, you will be in a
position to choose an adjec