"Well, well, Henry James is pretty good, though he is of the nineteenth century, and that glaringly"

Robert Louis Stevenson is expressing admiration for the work of Henry James, an author of the 19th century. He acknowledges that James is "respectable" despite the fact that he is from a bygone period. Stevenson implies that James' work is still appropriate and of a high quality, despite the reality that it was written in the 19th century. This is likely a recommendation to the reality that the nineteenth century was a time of great modification and development, which James' work had the ability to stand the test of time. Stevenson's quote is a testament to the enduring effect of James' work, and the timelessness of his writing. It is a suggestion that great literature can transcend time and stay appropriate and valued for generations.