Stevenson's personality is at first introduced by showing his reaction to the news of Fanny Osbourne's dire illness. His wandering in France with her and his desire to marry her may at first seem like immature infatuation, but his choosing to risk everything—his standing with his family, his career, and even his life—to come to Osbourne's aid suggest that there is much more to his passion than an attraction to her exotic looks.

According to Murphy: As far as he [Stevenson] was concerned, Fanny was perfect in every way. She was small and fine-boned, with a dark, mysterious complexion. An acquaintance of Stevenson's noted that her "eyes were full of . .. mystery as they changed from fire to fun to gloom or tenderness." Stevenson wasn't attracted to her simply because of her exotic looks. He admired her independent spirit, her keen...