of the American students in Heidelberg, on July 4th, with great effect;

so his idea was not wasted.]

We left Hartford before the end of March, and I have been idle ever

since. I have waited for a call to go to work--I knew it would come.

Well, it began to come a week ago; my note-book comes out more and more

frequently every day since; 3 days ago I concluded to move my manuscript

over to my den. Now the call is loud and decided at last. So tomorrow I

shall begin regular, steady work, and stick to it till middle of July or

1st August, when I look for Twichell; we will then walk about Germany 2

or 3 weeks, and then I'll go to work again--(perhaps in Munich.)

We both send a power of love to the Howellses, and we do wish you were

here. Are you in the new house? Tell us about it.

Yrs Ever

MARK.

There has been no former mention in the letters of the coming of

Twichell; yet this had been a part of the European plan. Mark Twain

had invited his walking companion to make a tramp with him through

Europe, as his guest. Material for the new book would grow faster

with Twichell as a companion; and these two in spite of their widely

opposed views concerning Providence and the general scheme of

creation, were wholly congenial comrades. Twichell, in Hartford,

476

The Letters Of Mark Twain, Complete