Volume Ii Part 15 (1/2)

--were overpowered with curiosity, and resolved to go. It came off in the a.s.sembly Room, now more exquisitely desolate than words can describe. Eighteen s.h.i.+llings was the ”take.” Behind a screen among the company, we heard mysterious gurglings of water before the entertainment began, and then a slippery sound which occasioned me to whisper C. C.

(who laughed in the most ridiculous manner), ”Soap.” It proved to be the young lady was.h.i.+ng herself. She must have been wonderfully dirty, for she took a world of trouble, and didn't come out clean after all--in a wretched dirty muslin frock, with blue ribbons. She was the alleged mesmeriser, and a boy who distributed bills the alleged mesmerised. It was a most preposterous imposition, but more ludicrous than any poor sight I ever saw. The boy is clearly out of pantomime, and when he pretended to be in the mesmeric state, made the company back by going in among them head over heels, backwards, half-a-dozen times, in a most insupportable way. The pianist had struck; and the manner in which the lecturer implored ”some lady” to play a ”polker,” and the manner in which no lady would; and in which the few ladies who were there sat with their hats on, and the elastic under their chins, as if it were going to blow, is never to be forgotten. I have been writing all the morning, and am going for a walk to Ramsgate. This is a beast of a letter, but I am not well, and have been addling my head.

Ever, dear Girls, your affectionate Father.

[Sidenote: Mr. W. Wilkie Collins.]

GAD'S HILL PLACE, HIGHAM BY ROCHESTER, KENT, _Friday Night, Sept. 16th, 1859._

MY DEAR WILKIE,

Just a word to say that I have received yours, and that I look forward to the reunion on Thursday, when I hope to have the satisfaction of recounting to you the plot of a play that has been laid before me for commending advice.

Ditto to what you say respecting the _Great Eastern_. I went right up to London Bridge by the boat that day, on purpose that I might pa.s.s her. I thought her the ugliest and most uns.h.i.+plike thing these eyes ever beheld. I wouldn't go to sea in her, s.h.i.+ver my ould timbers and rouse me up with a monkey's tail (man-of-war metaphor), not to chuck a biscuit into Davy Jones's weather eye, and see double with my own old toplights.

Turk has been so good as to produce from his mouth, for the wholesome consternation of the family, eighteen feet of worm. When he had brought it up, he seemed to think it might be turned to account in the housekeeping and was proud. Pony has kicked a shaft off the cart, and is to be sold. Why don't you buy her? she'd never kick with you.

Barber's opinion is, that them fruit-trees, one and all, is touchwood, and not fit for burning at any gentleman's fire; also that the stocking of this here garden is worth less than nothing, because you wouldn't have to grub up nothing, and something takes a man to do it at three-and-sixpence a day. Was ”left desponding” by your reporter.

I have had immense difficulty to find a man for the stable-yard here.

Barber having at last engaged one this morning, I enquired if he had a decent hat for driving in, to which Barber returned this answer:

”Why, sir, not to deceive you, that man flatly say that he never have wore that article since man he was!”

I am consequently fortified into my room, and am afraid to go out to look at him. Love from all.

Ever affectionately.

[Sidenote: Monsieur Regnier.]

GAD'S HILL PLACE, HIGHAM BY ROCHESTER, KENT, _Sat.u.r.day, Oct. 15th, 1859._

MY DEAR REGNIER,

You will receive by railway parcel the proof-sheets of a story of mine, that has been for some time in progress in my weekly journal, and that will be published in a complete volume about the middle of November.

n.o.body but Forster has yet seen the latter portions of it, or will see them until they are published. I want you to read it for two reasons.

Firstly, because I hope it is the best story I have written. Secondly, because it treats of a very remarkable time in France; and I should very much like to know what you think of its being dramatised for a French theatre. If you should think it likely to be done, I should be glad to take some steps towards having it well done. The story is an extraordinary success here, and I think the end of it is certain to make a still greater sensation.

Don't trouble yourself to write to me, _mon ami_, until you shall have had time to read the proofs. Remember, they are _proofs_, and _private_; the latter chapters will not be before the public for five or six weeks to come.

With kind regards to Madame Regnier, in which my daughters and their aunt unite,

Believe me, ever faithfully yours.

P.S.--The story (I daresay you have not seen any of it yet) is called ”A Tale of Two Cities.”

[Sidenote: Mr. Frank Stone, A.R.A.]