[_Vailima_, 1891.]
SIR,—I cannot call to mind having written you, but I am so throng with
occupation this may have fallen aside. I never heard tell I had any
friends in Ireland, and I am led to understand you are come of no
considerable family. The gentleman I now serve with assures me, however,
you are a very pretty fellow and your letter deserves to be remarked.
It’s true he is himself a man of a very low descent upon the one side;
though upon the other he counts cousinship with a gentleman, my very good
friend, the late Mr. Balfour of the Shaws, in the Lothian; which I should
be wanting in good fellowship to forget. He tells me besides you are a
man of your hands; I am not informed of your weapon; but if all be true
it sticks in my mind I would be ready to make exception in your favour,
and meet you like one gentleman with another. I suppose this’ll be your
purpose in your favour, which I could very ill make out; it’s one I would
be sweir to baulk you of. It seems, Mr. McIlvaine, which I take to be
your name, you are in the household of a gentleman of the name of
Coupling: for whom my friend is very much engaged. The distances being
very uncommodious, I think it will be maybe better if we leave it to
these two to settle all that’s necessary to honour. I would have you to
take heed it’s a very unusual condescension on my part, that bear a
King’s name; and for the matter of that I think shame to be mingled with
a person of the name of Coupling, which is doubtless a very good house
but one I never heard tell of, any more than Stevenson. But your purpose
being laudable, I would be sorry (as the word goes) to cut off my nose to
spite my face.—I am, Sir, your humble servant,
A. STEWART,
_Chevalier de St. Louis_.
_To Mr. M’Ilvaine_,
_Gentleman Private in a foot regiment_,
_under cover to Mr. Coupling_.
He has read me some of your Barrack Room Ballants, which are not of so
noble a strain as some of mine in the Gaelic, but I could set some of
them to the pipes if this rencounter goes as it’s to be desired. Let’s
first, as I understand you to move, do each other this rational
courtesys; and if either will survive, we may grow better acquaint. For
your tastes for what’s martial and for poetry agree with mine.