up as Uncle Remus, taking Clara along, and we had a good time.  I have lost no day since, and suffered no discomfort to speak of, but drove my troubles out of my mind and had good success in keeping them out—­through watchfulness.  I have done a good week’s work and put the book a good way ahead in the Great Trial [of Joan], which is the difficult part:  the part which requires the most thought and carefulness.  I cannot see the end of the Trial yet, but I am on the road.  I am creeping surely toward it.

    “Why not leave them all to me?” My business brothers?  I take you by
    the hand!  I jump at the chance!

I ought to be ashamed and I am trying my best to be ashamed—­and yet I do jump at the chance in spite of it.  I don’t want to write Irving and I don’t want to write Stoker.  It doesn’t seem as if I could.  But I can suggest something for you to write them; and then if you see that I am unwise you can write them something quite different.  Now this is my idea: 

       1.  To return Stoker’s $100 to him and keep his stock.

       2.  And tell Irving that when luck turns with me I will make
       good to him what the salvage from the dead Co. fails to pay him
       of his $500.

    [P.  S. Madam says No, I must face the music.  So I inclose my
    effort—­to be used if you approve, but not otherwise.]

We shall try to find a tenant for our Hartford house; not an easy matter, for it costs heavily to live in.  We can never live in it again; though it would break the family’s hearts if they could believe it.

Nothing daunts Mrs. Clemens or makes the world look black to her
—­which is the reason I haven’t drowned myself.

I got the Xmas journals which you sent and I thank you for that Xmas
remembrance.

We all send our deepest and warmest greetings to you and all of
yours and a Happy New Year!

S. L. Clemens.

—­[Brain Stoker and Sir Henry Irving had each taken a small interest in the machine.  The inclosure for Stoker ran as follows:]

My dear Stoker,—­I am not dating this, because it is not to be
mailed at present.

When it reaches you it will mean that there is a hitch in my machine enterprise—­a, hitch so serious as to make it take to itself the aspect of a dissolved dream.  This letter, then, will contain cheque for the $100 which you have paid.  And will you tell Irving for me —­I can’t get up courage enough to talk about this misfortune myself, except to you, whom by good luck I haven’t damaged yet—­that when the wreckage presently floats ashore he will get a good deal of his $500 back; and a dab at a time I will make up to him the rest.

I’m not feeling as fine as I was when I saw you there in your home.  Please remember me kindly to Mrs. Stoker.  I gave up that London lecture-project entirely.  Had to—­there’s never been a chance since to find the time.

Sincerely yours,
S. L. Clemens.