Mark Twain had returned from a month’s trip to Bermuda a few days before Jean died.  Now, by his physician’s advice, he went back to those balmy islands.  He had always loved them, since his first trip there with Twichell thirty-three years earlier, and at “Bay House,” the residence of Vice-Consul Allen, where he was always a welcome guest, he could have the attentions and care and comforts of a home.  Taking Claude, the butler, as his valet, he sailed January 5th, and presently sent back a letter in which he said, “Again I am leading the ideal life, and am immeasurably content.”

By his wish, the present writer and his family were keeping the Stormfield house open for him, in order that he might be able to return to its comforts at any time.  He sent frequent letters—­one or two by each steamer—­but as a rule they did not concern matters of general interest.  A little after his arrival, however, he wrote concerning an incident of his former visit—­a trivial matter—­but one which had annoyed him.  I had been with him in Bermuda on the earlier visit, and as I remember it, there had been some slight oversight on his part in the matter of official etiquette—­something which doubtless no one had noticed but himself.

To A. B. Paine, in Redding: 

Bayhouse, Jan. 11, 1910.

Dear Paine,—. . .  There was a military lecture last night at the Officer’s Mess, prospect, and as the lecturer honored me with a special and urgent invitation and said he wanted to lecture to me particularly, I being “the greatest living master of the platform-art,” I naturally packed Helen and her mother into the provided carriage and went.

As soon as we landed at the door with the crowd the Governor came to me at once and was very cordial, and apparently as glad to see me as he said he was.  So that incident is closed.  And pleasantly and entirely satisfactorily.  Everything is all right, now, and I am no longer in a clumsy and awkward situation.

I “met up” with that charming Colonel Chapman, and other officers of the regiment, and had a good time.

Commandant Peters of the “Carnegie” will dine here tonight and arrange a
private visit for us to his ship, the crowd to be denied access. 
                    Sincerely Yours,
                                        S. L. C.

“Helen” of this letter was Mr. and Mrs. Allen’s young daughter, a favorite companion of his walks and drives.  “Loomis” and “Lark,” mentioned in the letters which follow, were Edward E. Loomis—­his nephew by marriage—­named by Mark Twain as one of the trustees of his estate, and Charles T. Lark, Mark Twain’s attorney.

To A. B. Paine, in Redding: 

Hamilton, Jan. 21, ’10.  Dear Paine,—­Thanks for your letter, and for its contenting news of the situation in that foreign and far-off and vaguely-remembered country where you and Loomis and Lark and other beloved friends are.