o tell you also that I have suppressed your poem. I shall send
it you for yourself, and I hope you will agree with me that it was not
good enough in point of view of merit, and a little too intimate as
between you and me. I would not say less of you, my friend, but I scarce
care to say so much in public while we live. A man may stand on his own
head; it is not fair to set his friend on a pedestal.

The verses are now at press; I have written a damn fine ballad.--And I
am, dear S. C., ever yours,

TOMNODDY.

TO THOMAS STEVENSON

Want of health preventing the author at this time from carrying the
adventures of David Balfour, as narrated in _Kidnapped_, through to
their issue as originally designed, it was resolved to wind them up
for the present with the discomfiture of the wicked uncle, leaving
open the possibility of a sequel, which was supplied six years later
in _Catriona_.

[_Skerryvore, Bournemouth, April 1886._]

MY DEAR FATHER,--The David problem has to-day been decided. I am to
leave the door open for a sequel if the public take to it, and this will
save me from butchering a lot of good material to no purpose. Your
letter from Carlisle was pretty like yourself, sir, as I was pleased to
see; the hand of Jekyll, not the hand of Hyde. I am for action quite
unfit, and even a letter is beyond me; so pray take these scraps at a
vast deal more than their intrinsic worth. I am in great spirits about
David, Colvin agreeing with Henley, Fanny, and myself in thinking it far
the most human of my labours hitherto. As to whether the long-eared
British public may take to it, all think it more than doubtful; I wish
they would, for I could do a second volume with ease and pleasure, and
Colvin thinks it sin and folly to throw away David and Alan Breck upon
so small a field as this one.--Ever your affectionate son,

R. L. S.

TO MISS MONROE

The next is in answer to criticisms on _Prince Otto_ received from a
lady correspondent in Chicago.

_Skerryvore, Bournemouth, May 25th, 1886._

DEAR MISS MONROE,--(I hope I have this rightly) I must lose no time in
thanking you for a letter singularly pleasant to receive. It may
interest you to know that I read to the signature without suspecting my
correspondent was a woman; though in one point (a reference to the
Countess) I might have found a hint of the truth. You are not pleased
with Otto; since I judge you do not l