is a
damned Didot with not the ghost of a note, type that puts my eyes out,
and (I suspect) no very splendid text--but there, the carnal feelings of
the man who can't construe are probably parents to the suspicion.

My dear fellow, I would tenfold rather come to the Monument; but my
father is an old man, and if I go to town, it shall be (this time) for
his pleasure. He has many marks of age, some of childhood; I wish this
knighthood business could come off, though even the talk of it has been
already something, but the change (to my eyes) is thoroughly begun; and
a very beautiful, simple, honourable, high-spirited and child-like (and
childish) man is now in process of deserting us piecemeal. _Si quis
piorum_--God knows, not that he was pious, but he did his hand's darg or
tried to do it; and if not,--well, it is a melancholy business.--Yours
ever,

R. L. S.

TO MRS. FLEEMING JENKIN

The first letter showing Stevenson's new interest in the
technicalities of music.

[_Skerryvore, Bournemouth, March 1886._]

MY DEAR MRS. JENKIN,--I try to tell myself it is good nature, but I know
it is vanity that makes me write.

I have drafted the first part of Chapter VI., Fleeming and his friends,
his influence on me, his views on religion and literature, his part at
the Savile; it should boil down to about ten pages, and I really do
think it admirably good. It has so much evoked Fleeming for myself that
I found my conscience stirred just as it used to be after a serious talk
with him: surely that means it is good? I had to write and tell you,
being alone.

I have excellent news of Fanny, who is much better for the change. My
father is still very yellow, and very old, and very weak, but yesterday
he seemed happier, and smiled, and followed what was said; even laughed,
I think. When he came away, he said to me, "Take care of yourself, my
dearie," which had a strange sound of childish days, and will not leave
my mind.

You must get Litolf's _Gavottes Celebres_: I have made another trover
there: a musette of Lully's. The second part of it I have not yet got
the hang of; but the first--only a few bars! The gavotte is beautiful
and pretty hard, I think, and very much of the period; and at the end of
it, this musette enters with the most really thrilling effect of simple
beauty. O--it's first-rate. I am quite mad over it. If you find other
books containing Lully, Rameau, Martini, please let me know; also