vailima letters-第35节
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will tell you nothing； except the various names under
consideration。 First； it ought to be called … but of course
that is impossible …
BRAXFIELD。
Then it IS to be called either
WEIR OF HERMISTON；
THE LORD…JUSTICE CLERK；
THE TWO KIRSTIES OF THE CAULDSTANESLAP；
or
FOUR BLACK BROTHERS。
Characters：
Adam Weir； Lord…Justice Clerk； called Lord Hermiston。
Archie； his son。
Aunt Kirstie Elliott； his housekeeper at Hermiston。
Elliott of the Cauldstaneslap； her brother。
Kirstie Elliott； his daughter。
Jim； ｝
Gib； ｝
Hob ｝ his sons。
& ｝
Dandie； ｝
Patrick Innes； a young advocate。
The Lord…Justice General。
Scene； about Hermiston in the Lammermuirs and in Edinburgh。
Temp。 1812。 So you see you are to have another holiday from
copra！ The rain begins softly on the iron roof； and I will
do the reverse and … dry up。
SUNDAY。
Yours with the diplomatic private opinion received。 It is
just what I should have supposed。 CA M'EST BIEN EGAL。 … The
name is to be
THE LORD…JUSTICE CLERK。
None others are genuine。 Unless it be
LORD…JUSTICE CLERK HERMISTON。
NOV。 2ND。
On Saturday we expected Captain Morse of the Alameda to come
up to lunch； and on Friday with genuine South Sea hospitality
had a pig killed。 On the Saturday morning no pig。 Some of
the boys seemed to give a doubtful account of themselves； our
next neighbour below in the wood is a bad fellow and very
intimate with some of our boys； for whom his confounded house
is like a fly…paper for flies。 To add to all this； there was
on the Saturday a great public presentation of food to the
King and Parliament men； an occasion on which it is almost
dignified for a Samoan to steal anything； and entirely
dignified for him to steal a pig。
（The Amanuensis went to the TALOLO； as it is called； and saw
something so very pleasing she begs to interrupt the letter
to tell it。 The different villagers came in in bands … led
by the maid of the village； followed by the young warriors。
It was a very fine sight； for some three thousand people are
said to have assembled。 The men wore nothing but magnificent
head…dresses and a bunch of leaves； and were oiled and
glistening in the sunlight。 One band had no maid but was led
by a tiny child of about five … a serious little creature
clad in a ribbon of grass and a fine head…dress； who skipped
with elaborate leaps in front of the warriors； like a little
kid leading a band of lions。 A。M。）
The A。M。 being done； I go on again。 All this made it very
possible that even if none of our boys had stolen the pig；
some of them might know the thief。 Besides； the theft； as it
was a theft of meat prepared for a guest； had something of
the nature of an insult； and 'my face；' in native phrase；
'was ashamed。' Accordingly； we determined to hold a bed of
justice。 It was done last night after dinner。 I sat at the
head of the table； Graham on my right hand； Henry Simele at
my left； Lloyd behind him。 The house company sat on the
floor around the walls … twelve all told。 I am described as
looking as like Braxfield as I could manage with my
appearance； Graham； who is of a severe countenance； looked
like Rhadamanthus； Lloyd was hideous to the view； and Simele
had all the fine solemnity of a Samoan chief。 The
proceedings opened by my delivering a Samoan prayer； which
may be translated thus … 'Our God； look down upon us and
shine into our hearts。 Help us to be far from falsehood so
that each one of us may stand before Thy Face in his
integrity。' … Then； beginning with Simele； every one came up
to the table； laid his hand on the Bible； and repeated clause
by clause after me the following oath … I fear it may sound
even comic in English； but it is a very pretty piece of
Samoan； and struck direct at the most lively superstitions of
the race。 'This is the Holy Bible here that I am touching。
Behold me； O God！ If I know who it was that took away the
pig； or the place to which it was taken； or have heard
anything relating to it； and shall not declare the same … be
made an end of by God this life of mine！' They all took it
with so much seriousness and firmness that （as Graham said）
if they were not innocent they would make invaluable
witnesses。 I was so far impressed by their bearing that I
went no further； and the funny and yet strangely solemn scene
came to an end。
SUNDAY； NO。 6th。
Here is a long story to go back upon； and I wonder if I have
either time or patience for the task？
Wednesday I had a great idea of match…making； and proposed to
Henry that Faale would make a good wife for him。 I wish I
had put this down when it was fresher in my mind； it was so
interesting an interview。 My gentleman would not tell if I
were on or not。 'I do not know yet； I will tell you next
week。 May I tell the sister of my father？ No； better not；
tell her when it is done。' … 'But will not your family be
angry if you marry without asking them？' … 'My village？ What
does my village want？ Mats！' I said I thought the girl
would grow up to have a great deal of sense； and my gentleman
flew out upon me； she had sense now； he said。
Thursday； we were startled by the note of guns； and presently
after heard it was an English war ship。 Graham and I set off
at once； and as soon as we met any townsfolk they began
crying to me that I was to be arrested。 It was the VOSSISCHE
ZEITUNG article which had been quoted in a paper。 Went on
board and saw Captain Bourke； he did not even know … not even
guess … why he was here； having been sent off by cablegram
from Auckland。 It is hoped the same ship that takes this off
Europewards may bring his orders and our news。 But which is
it to be？ Heads or tails？ If it is to be German； I hope
they will deport me； I should prefer it so； I do not think
that I could bear a German officialdom； and should probably
have to leave SPONTE MEA； which is only less picturesque and
more expensive。
8TH。
Mail day。 All well； not yet put in prison； whatever may be
in store for me。 No time even to sign this lame letter。
CHAPTER XXIV
DEC。 1ST。
MY DEAR COLVIN； … Another grimy little odd and end of paper；
for which you shall be this month repaid in kind； and serve
you jolly well right。 。 。 The new house is roofed； it will
be a braw house； and what is better； I have my yearly bill
in； and I find I can pay for it。 For all which mercies； etc。
I must have made close on 4；000 pounds this year all told；
but； what is not so pleasant； I seem to have come near to
spending them。 I have been in great alarm； with this new
house on the cards； all summer； and came very near to taking
in sail； but I live here so entirely on credit； that I
determined to hang on。
DEC。 1ST。
I was saying yesterday that my life was strange and did not
think how well I spoke。 Yesterday evening I was briefed to
defend a political prisoner before the Deputy Commissioner。
What do you think of that for a vicissitude？
DEC。 3RD。
Now for a confession。 When I heard you and Cassells had
decided to print THE BOTTLE IMP along with FALESA； I was too
much disappointed to answer。 THE BOTTLE IMP was the PIECE DE
RESISTANCE for my volume； ISLAND NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS。
However； that volume might have never got done； and I send
you two others in case they should be in time。
First have the BEACH OF FALESA。
Then a fresh false title： ISLAND NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS； and
then
THE BOTTLE IMP： a cue from an old melodrama。
THE ISLE OF VOICES。
THE WAIF WOMAN； a cue from a SAGA。
Of course these two others are not up to the mark of THE
BOTTLE IMP； but they each have a certain merit； and they fit
in style。 By saying 'a cue from an old melodrama' after the
B。 I。； you can get rid of my note。 If this is in time； it
will be splendid； and will make quite a volume。
Should you and Cassells prefer； you can call the whole volume
I。 N。 E。 … though the BEACH OF FALESA is the child of a quite
different inspiration。 They all have a queer realism； even
the most extravagant； even the ISLE OF VOICES； the manners
are exact。
Should they come too late； have them type…written； and return
to me here the type…written copies。
SUNDAY； DEC。 4TH。
3rd start； … But now more humbly and with the aid of an
Amanuensis。 First one word about page 2。 My wife protests
against the Waif…woman and I am instructed to report the same
to you。 。 。 。
DEC。 5TH。
A horrid alarm rises that our October mail was burned
crossing the Plains。 If so； you lost a beautiful long letter
… I am sure it was beautiful though I remember nothing abo
