filled up. After the Tuesday's reading in London, I have Two for that same week in the country — Nottingham and Leicester. In the following week I have none; but my arrangements are all at sea yet, for I must somehow do an "Uncommercial" in that week, and I also want to get poor Chauncey's "opinions" to the printer. This mouldy old roosting-place comes out mouldily as to let, of course. I hate the sight of the bygone assembly rooms, and the Bath chairs trundling the dowagers about the streets. As to to-morrow morning in the daylight! I have no cold to speak of. Dolby sends kindest regard. DCLXIX. MRS. LEHMANN DEAR MRS. LEHMANN, OFFICE, Wednesday, February 3, 1869. Before getting your kind note, I had written to Lehmann, explaining why I cannot allow myself any social pleasure while my farewell task is yet unfinished. The work is so very hard, that every little scrap of rest and silence I can pick up is precious. And even those morsels are so flavoured with "All the Year Round," that they are not quite the genuine article. Joachim 1 came round to see me at the hall last night, and I told him how sorry I was to forego the pleasure of meeting him (he is a noble fellow!) at your pleasant table. I am glad you are coming to the "Murder" on the 2d of March. (The house will be prodigious.) Such little changes as I have made shall be carefully presented to your critical notice, and I hope will be crowned with your approval. But you are always such a fine audience that I have no fear on that head. I saw Chorley yesterday in his own room. A sad and solitary sight. The widowed Drake, with a certain gin-coherence of manner, presented a blooming countenance and buxom form in the passage; so buxom, indeed, that she was obliged to retire before me like a modest stopper, before I could get into the dining decanter where poor Chorley reposed. DCLXX. MISS HOGARTH GLASGOW, Thursday, February 25, 1869. I received your letter at Edinburgh this morning. I did not write to you yesterday, as there had been no reading on the previous night. The foot bears the fatigue wonderfully well, and really occasions me no inconvenience beyond the necessity of wearing the big work of art. Syme saw me again this morning, and utterly scouted the gout notion altogether. I think the Edinburgh audience understood the "Murder" better last night than any audience that has heard it yet. Business 99 is enormous, and Dolby jubilant. It is a most deplorable afternoon here, deplorable even for Glasgow. A great wind blowing, and sleet driving before it in a storm of heavy blobs. We had to drive our train dead in the teeth of the wind, and got in here late, and are pressed for time. Strange that in the North we have had absolutely no snow. There was a very thin scattering on the Pentlands for an hour or two, but no more. DCLXXI. THE SAME EDINBURGH, Friday, February 26, 1869. Writing to-morrow morning would be all but impracticable for me; would be quite so for Dolby, who has to go to the agents and "settle up" in the midst of his breakfast. So I write to-day, in reply to your note received at Glasgow this morning. The foot conducts itself splendidly. We had a most enormous cram at Glasgow. Syme saw me again yesterday (before I left here for Glasgow), and repeated "Gout!" with the greatest indignation and contempt, several times. The aching is going off as the day goes on, if it be worth mentioning again. The ride from Glasgow was charming this morning; the sun shining brilliantly, and the country looking beautiful. I told you what the Nortons were. Mabel Lowell is a charming little thing, and very retiring in manner and expression. We shall have a scene here to-night, no doubt. The night before last, Ballantyne, unable to get in, had a seat behind the screen, and was nearly frightened off it by the "Murder." Every vestige of colour had left his face when I came off, and he sat staring over a glass of champagne in the wildest way. I have utterly left off my champagne, and I think, with good results. Nothing during the readings but a very little weak iced brandy and water. I hope you will find me greatly improved on Tuesday. DCLXXII. MISS DICKENS BIRMINGHAM, Friday, March 5, 1869. This is to send you my best love, and to wish you many and many happy returns of to-morrow, which I miraculously remember to be your birthday. I saw this morning a very pretty fan here. I was going to buy it as a remembrance of the occasion, when I was checked by a dim misgiving that you had a fan not long ago from Chorley. Tell me what you would like better, and consider me your debtor in that article, whatever it may be. I have had my usual left boot on this morning, and have had an hour's walk. It was in a gale of wind and a simoom of dust, but I greatly enjoyed it. Immense enthusiasm at Wolverhampton last night over "Marigold." Scott made a most amazing ass of himself yesterday. He reported that he had left behind somewhere three books-" Boots," "Murder," and "Gamp." We immediately telegraphed to the office. Answer, no books there. As my impression was that he must have left them at St. James's Hall, we then arranged to send him up to London at seven this morning. Meanwhile (though not reproached), he wept copiously and audibly. I had asked him over and over again, was he sure he had not put them in my large black trunk? Too sure, too sure. Had n't opened that trunk after Tuesday night's reading. He opened it to get some clothes out when I went to bed, and there the books were ! He produced them with an air of injured surprise, as if we had put them there. DCLXXIII. MISS HOGARTH QUEEN'S HOTEL, MANCHESTER, Sunday, March 7, 1869. We have had our sitting-room chimney afire this morning, and have had to turn out elsewhere to breakfast; but the chamber has since been cleaned up, and we are reinstated. Manchester is (for Manchester) bright and fresh. this Tell Russell that a crop of hay is to be got off the meadow year, before the club use it. They did not make such use losing another hay-crop. So of it last year as reconciles me to they must wait until the hay is in, before they commence active operations. Poor Olliffe ! I am truly sorry to read those sad words about his suffering, and fear that the end is not far off. We are comfortably housed here, and certainly that immense hall is a wonderful place for its size. Without much greater expenditure of voice than usual, I a little enlarged the action. last night, and Dolby (who went to all the distant points of view) reported that he could detect no difference between it and any other place. As always happens now and did not at first they were unanimously taken by Noah Claypole's laugh. But the go, throughout, was enormous. Sims Reeves was doing Henry Bertram at the theatre, and of shillings. It was a night of excitement for Cottonopolis. course took some of our I received from Mrs. Keeley this morning a very good photograph of poor old Bob. Yesterday I had a letter from Harry, reminding me that our intended Cambridge day is the day next after that of the boat race. Clearly it must be changed. DCLXXIV. MRS. JOHN FORSTER QUEEN'S HOTEL, MANCHESTER, MY DEAR MRS. FORSTER, A thousand thanks for your note, which has reached me here this afternoon. At breakfast this morning Dolby showed me the local paper with a paragraph in it recording poor dear Tennent's death. You may imagine how shocked I was. Immediately before I left town this last 1 Sir James Emerson Tennent. time, I had an unusually affectionate letter from him, inclosing one from Forster, and proposing the friendly dinner since appointed for the 25th. I replied to him in the same spirit, and felt touched at the time by the gentle earnestness of his tone. It is remarkable that I talked of him a great deal yesterday to Dolby (who knew nothing of him), and that I reverted to him again at night before going to bed with no reason that I know of. Dolby was strangely impressed by this when he showed me the newspaper. God be with us all! Ever your affectionate. DCLXXV. A. H. LAYARD OFFICE OF "ALL THE YEAR ROUND," MY DEAR LAYARD, - Coming to town for a couple of days, from York, I find your beautiful present. With my heartiest congratulations on your marriage, accept my most cordial thanks for a possession that I shall always prize foremost among my worldly goods; firstly, for your sake; secondly, for its own. Not one of these glasses shall be set on table until Mrs. Layard is there, to touch with her lips the first champagne that any of them shall ever hold! This vow has been registered in solemn triumvirate at Gad's Hill. The first week in June will about see me through my present work, I hope. I came to town hurriedly to attend poor dear Emerson Tennent's funeral. You will know how my mind went back, in the York up-train at midnight, to Mount Vesuvius and our Neapolitan supper. I have given Mr. Hills, of Oxford Street, the letter of introduction to you that you kindly permitted. He has immense local influence, and could carry his neighbours in favour of any good design. My dear Layard, ever cordially yours. 1 Some Venetian glass champagne tumblers. |