As the spring advanced Stevenson had again been much out of sorts,
and had gone for a change, in the company of Mr. R. A. M. Stevenson,
on his first visit to the artist haunts of Fontainebleau which were
afterwards so much endeared to him.
[_Barbizon, April 1875._]
MY DEAR FRIEND,--This is just a line to say I am well and happy. I am
here in my dear forest all day in the open air. It is very be--no, not
beautiful exactly, just now, but very bright and living. There are one
or two song birds and a cuckoo; all the fruit-trees are in flower, and
the beeches make sunshine in a shady place. I begin to go all right; you
need not be vexed about my health; I really was ill at first, as bad as
I have been for nearly a year; but the forest begins to work, and the
air, and the sun, and the smell of the pines. If I could stay a month
here, I should be as right as possible. Thanks for your letter.--Your
faithful