led away; he had
made his story turn on such improbabilities, such fantastic trifles, not
on a good human basis, such as I recognised. You are right about the
casts, they were a capital idea; a good description of them at first,
and then afterwards, say second, for the lawyer to have illustrated
points out of the history of the originals, dusting the particular
bust--that was all the development the thing would bear. Dickens killed
them. The only really well _executed_ scenes are the riverside ones; the
escape in particular is excellent; and I may add, the capture of the two
convicts at the beginning. Miss Havisham is, probably, the worst thing
in human fiction. But Wemmick I like; and I like Trabb's boy; and Mr.
Wopsle as Hamlet is splendid.

The weather here is greatly improved, and I hope in three days to be in
the chalet. That is, if I get some money to float me there.

I hope you are all right again, and will keep better. The month of March
is past its mid career; it must soon begin to turn toward the lamb; here
it has already begun to do so; and I hope milder weather will pick you
up. Wogg has eaten a forpet of rice and milk, his beard is streaming,
his eyes wild. I am besieged by demands of work from America.

The L50 has just arrived; many thanks; I am now at ease.--Ever your
affectionate son, _pro_ Cassandra, Wogg and Co.,

R. L. S.

TO W. E. HENLEY

[_Chalet la Solitude, Hyeres, April 1883._]

My head is singing with _Otto_; for the first two weeks I wrote and
revised and only finished IV chapters: last week, I have just drafted
straight ahead, and I have just finished Chapter XI. It will want a heap
of oversight and much will not stand, but the pace is good; about 28
Cornhill pp. drafted in seven days, and almost all of it
dialogue--indeed I may say all, for I have dismissed the rest very
summarily in the draft: one can always tickle at that. At the same rate,
the draft should be finished in ten days more; and then I shall have the
pleasure of beginning again at the beginning. Ah damned job! I have no
idea whether or not Otto will be good. It is all pitched pretty high and
stilted; almost like the Arabs, at that; but of course there is
love-making in Otto, and indeed a good deal of it. I sometimes feel very
weary; but the thing travels--and I like it when I am at it.

Remember me kindly to all.--Your ex-contributor,

R. L. S.

TO MRS. SITWELL

His correspondent ha