robert louis stevenson-第3部分
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without woodcuts； and attracted not the least attention。 I did not care。 I liked the tale myself； for much the same reason as my father liked the beginning： it was my kind of picturesque。 I was not a little proud of John Silver also； and to this day rather admire that smooth and formidable adventurer。 What was infinitely more exhilarating； I had passed a landmark。 I had finished a tale and written The End upon my manuscript； as I had not done since THE PENTLAND RISING； when I was a boy of sixteen； not yet at college。 In truth； it was so by a lucky set of accidents： had not Dr Japp come on his visit； had not the tale flowed from me with singular ease； it must have been laid aside； like its predecessors； and found a circuitous and unlamented way to the fire。 Purists may suggest it would have been better so。 I am not of that mind。 The tale seems to have given much pleasure； and it brought （or was the means of bringing） fire； food； and wine to a deserving family in which I took an interest。 I need scarcely say I mean my own。〃
He himself gives a goodly list of the predecessors which had found a circuitous and unlamented way to the fire
〃As soon as I was able to write； I became a good friend to the paper…makers。 Reams upon reams must have gone to the making of RATHILLET； THE PENTLAND RISING； THE KING'S PARDON （otherwise PARK WHITEHEAD）； EDWARD DAVEN； A COUNTRY DANCE； and A VENDETTA IN THE WEST。 RATHILLET was attempted before fifteen； THE VENDETTA at twenty…nine； and the succession of defeats lasted unbroken till I was thirty…one。〃
Another thing I carried from Braemar with me which I greatly prize … this was a copy of CHRISTIANITY CONFIRMED BY JEWISH AND HEATHEN TESTIMONY； by Mr Stevenson's father； with his autograph signature and many of his own marginal notes。 He had thought deeply on many subjects … theological； scientific； and social … and had recorded； I am afraid； but the smaller half of his thoughts and speculations。 Several days in the mornings； before R。 L。 Stevenson was able to face the somewhat 〃snell〃 air of the hills； I had long walks with the old gentleman； when we also had long talks on many subjects … the liberalising of the Scottish Church； educational reform； etc。； and； on one occasion； a statement of his reason； because of the subscription； for never having become an elder。 That he had in some small measure enjoyed my society； as I certainly had much enjoyed his； was borne out by a letter which I received from the son in reply to one I had written； saying that surely his father had never meant to present me at the last moment on my leaving by coach with that volume； with his name on it； and with pencilled notes here and there； but had merely given it me to read and return。 In the circumstances I may perhaps be excused quoting from a letter dated Castleton of Braemar； September 1881； in illustration of what I have said …
〃MY DEAR DR JAPP； … My father has gone； but I think I may take it upon me to ask you to keep the book。 Of all things you could do to endear yourself to me you have done the best； for； from your letter； you have taken a fancy to my father。
〃I do not know how to thank you for your kind trouble in the matter of THE SEA…COOK； but I am not unmindful。 My health is still poorly； and I have added intercostal rheumatism … a new attraction； which sewed me up nearly double for two days； and still gives me 'a list to starboard' … let us be ever nautical。 。 。 。 I do not think with the start I have； there will be any difficulty in letting Mr Henderson go ahead whenever he likes。 I will write my story up to its legitimate conclusion； and then we shall be in a position to judge whether a sequel would be desirable； and I myself would then know better about its practicability from the story…telling point of view。 … Yours very sincerely； ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。〃
A little later came the following：…
〃THE COTTAGE； CASTLETON OF BRAEMAR。 （NO DATE。）
〃MY DEAR DR JAPP； … Herewith go nine chapters。 I have been a little seedy； and the two last that I have written seem to me on a false venue； hence the smallness of the batch。 I have now； I hope； in the three last sent； turned the corner； with no great amount of dulness。
〃The map； with all its names； notes； soundings； and things； should make； I believe； an admirable advertisement for the story。 Eh？
〃I hope you got a telegram and letter I forwarded after you to Dinnat。 … Believe me； yours very sincerely； ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。〃
In the afternoon； if fine and dry； we went walking； and Stevenson would sometimes tell us stories of his short experience at the Scottish Bar； and of his first and only brief。 I remember him contrasting that with his experiences as an engineer with Bob Bain； who； as manager； was then superintending the building of a breakwater。 Of that time； too； he told the choicest stories； and especially of how； against all orders； he bribed Bob with five shillings to let him go down in the diver's dress。 He gave us a splendid description … finer； I think； than even that in his MEMORIES … of his sensations on the sea…bottom； which seems to have interested him as deeply； and suggested as many strange fancies； as anything which he ever came across on the surface。 But the possibility of enterprises of this sort ended … Stevenson lost his interest in engineering。
Stevenson's father had； indeed； been much exercised in his day by theological questions and difficulties； and though he remained a staunch adherent of the Established Church of Scotland he knew well and practically what is meant by the term 〃accommodation；〃 as it is used by theologians in reference to creeds and formulas； for he had over and over again； because of the strict character of the subscription required from elders of the Scottish Church declined； as I have said； to accept the office。 In a very express sense you could see that he bore the marks of his past in many ways … a quick； sensitive； in some ways even a fantastic…minded man； yet with a strange solidity and common…sense amid it all； just as though ferns with the veritable fairies' seed were to grow out of a common stone wall。 He looked like a man who had not been without sleepless nights … without troubles； sorrows； and perplexities； and even yet； had not wholly risen above some of them； or the results of them。 His voice was 〃low and sweet〃 … with just a possibility in it of rising to a shrillish key。 A sincere and faithful man； who had walked very demurely through life； though with a touch of sudden； bright； quiet humour and fancy； every now and then crossing the grey of his characteristic pensiveness or melancholy； and drawing effect from it。 He was most frank and genial with me； and I greatly honour his memory。 （2）
Thomas Stevenson； with a strange； sad smile； told me how much of a disappointment； in the first stage； at all events； Louis （he always called his son Louis at home）； had caused him； by failing to follow up his profession at the Scottish Bar。 How much he had looked forward； after the engineering was abandoned； to his devoting himself to the work of the Parliament House （as the Hall of the Chief Court is called in Scotland； from the building having been while yet there was a Scottish Parliament the place where it sat）； though truly one cannot help feeling how much Stevenson's very air and figure would have been out of keeping among the bewigged； pushing； sharp…set； hard…featured； and even red…faced and red…nosed （some of them； at any rate） company； who daily walked the Parliament House； and talked and gossiped there； often of other things than law and equity。 〃Well； yes； perhaps it was all for the best；〃 he said； with a sigh； on my having interjected the remark that R。 L。 Stevenson was wielding far more influence than he ever could have done as a Scottish counsel； even though he had risen rapidly in his profession； and become Lord…Advocate or even a judge。
There was； indeed； a very pathetic kind of harking back on the might…have…beens when I talked with him on this subject。 He had reconciled himself in a way to the inevitable； and； like a sensible man； was now inclined to make the most and the best of it。 The marriage； which； on the report of it； had been but a new disappointment to him； had； as if by magic； been transformed into a blessing in his mind and his wife's by personal contact with Fanny Van der Griff Stevenson； which no one who ever met her could wonder at； but； nevertheless； his dream of seeing his only son walking in the pathways of the Stevensons； and adorning a profession in Edinburgh； and so winning new and welcome laurels for the family and the name； was still present with him constantly； and by contrast； he was depressed with contemplation of the real state of the case； when； as I have said； I pointed out to him； as more than once I did； what an influence his son was wielding now； not only over those near to him； but throughout the world； compared with what could have come to him as a lighthouse engineer； however successful； or it may be as a briefless advocate or barrister； walking； hardly in glory and in joy； the Hall of the Edinburgh Parliament House。 And when I pictured the yet greater influence that was sure to come to him； he only shook his head with that smile which tells of hopes long…cherished and lost at last； and of resignation gained； as though at stern duty's call and an honest desire for the good of those near and dear to him。 It moved me more than I can say； and always in the midst of it he adroitly； and somewhat abruptly； changed the subject。 Such penalties do parents often pay for the honour of giving geniuses to the world。 Here； again； it may be true； 〃the individual withers but the world is more and more。〃
The impression of a kind of tragic fatality was but added to when Stevenson would speak of his father in such terms of love and admiration as quite moved one； of his desire to please him； of his highest respect and gratitude to him； and pride in having such a father。 It was most characteristic that when； in his travels in America； he met a gentleman who expressed plainl
