I have tried to put the explanation of the situation into Huck’s mouth, but didn’t succeed to my satisfaction. Will the note do, which I enclose? Alter, emend, shorten it or lengthen it to suit yourself—if any of these shall seem necessary—but in some way preserve the fact that the thing is from an unpublished book; don’t leave me in the position of gravely sitting down to write an episode which couldn’t have any sufficient raison d’ètreⒶemendation, without that.

I think you have made a most excellent selection; I perceive I should not have done so well if the matter had been left to me.