May 26.—­I went the same dull and weary round out to the Parliament House, which bothers one’s brains for the day.  Nevertheless, I get on.  Pages vanish from under my hand, and find their way to J. Ballantyne, who is grinding away with his presses.  I think I may say, now I begin to get rid of the dust raised about me by so many puzzling little facts, that it is plain sailing to the end.

Dined at Skene’s with George Forbes and lady.  But that was yesterday.

May 27.—­I got ducked in coming home from the Court.  Naboclish!—­I thank thee, Pat, for teaching me the word.  Made a hard day of it.  Scarce stirred from one room to another, but at bed-time finished a handsome handful of copy.  I have quoted Gourgaud’s evidence; I suppose he will be in a rare passion, and may be addicted to vengeance, like a long-moustached son of a French bitch as he is.  Naboclish! again for that.

    “Frenchman, Devil, or Don,
     Damn him, let him come on,
       He shan’t scare a son of the Island."[524]

May 28.—­Another day of uninterrupted study; two such would finish the work with a murrain.  I have several engagements next week; I wonder how I was such a fool as to take them.  I think I shall be done, however, before Saturday.  What shall I have to think of when I lie down at night and awake in the morning?  What will be my plague and my pastime, my curse and my blessing, as ideas come and the pulse rises, or as they flag and something like a snow haze covers my whole imagination?  I have my Highland Tales—­and then—­never mind, sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.

May 29.—­Detained at the House till near three.  Made a call on Mrs. Jobson and others; also went down to the printing-office.  I hope James Ballantyne will do well.  I think and believe he will.  Wrought in the evening.

May 30.—­Having but a trifle on the roll to-day, I set hard to work, and brought myself in for a holiday, or rather played truant.  At two o’clock went to a Mr. Mackenzie in my old house at Castle Street, to have some touches given to Walker’s print.[525] Afterwards, having young Hogg with me as an amanuensis, I took to the oar till near ten o’clock.[526]

May 31.—­Being a Court day I was engaged very late.  Then I called at the printing-house, but got no exact calculation how we come on.  Met Mr. Cadell, who bids, as the author’s copy [money] 1s. profit on each book of Hugh Little-john.  I thought this too little.  My general calculation is on such profits, that, supposing the book to sell to the public for 7s. 6d., the price ought to go in three shares—­one to the trade, one to the expense of print and paper, and one to the author and publisher between them, which of course would be 1s. 3d., not 1s. to the author.  But in stating this rule I omitted to observe that books for young persons are half bound before they go out into the trade.  This comes to about 9d. for two volumes.  The allowance to the trade is also heavy, so that 1s. a book is very well on great numbers.  There may besides be a third volume.