Volume Ii Part 66 (2/2)

Mr. S. L. Fildes was his ”new ill.u.s.trator,” to whom he alludes in a note to Mr. Frith; we also give a short note to Mr. Fildes himself.

The correspondence of Charles d.i.c.kens with Mrs. Dallas Glyn, the celebrated actress, for whom he had a great friends.h.i.+p, is so much on the subject of her own business, that we have only been able to select two notes of any public interest.

In explanation of _the last letter_, we give an extract from a letter addressed to _The Daily News_ by Mr. J. M. Makeham, soon after the death of Charles d.i.c.kens, as follows: ”That the public may exactly understand the circ.u.mstances under which Charles d.i.c.kens's letter to me was written, I am bound to explain that it is in reply to a letter which I addressed to him in reference to a pa.s.sage in the tenth chapter of ”Edwin Drood,” respecting which I ventured to suggest that he had, perhaps, forgotten that the figure of speech alluded to by him, in a way which, to my certain knowledge, was distasteful to some of his admirers, was drawn from a pa.s.sage of Holy Writ which is greatly reverenced by a large number of his countrymen as a prophetic description of the sufferings of our Saviour.”

The MS. of the little ”History of the New Testament” is now in the possession of his eldest daughter. She has (together with her aunt) received many earnest entreaties, both from friends and strangers, that this history might be allowed to be published, for the benefit of other children.

These many pet.i.tions have his daughter's fullest sympathy. But she knows that her father wrote this history ONLY for his own children, that it was his particular wish that it never should be published, and she therefore holds this wish as sacred and irrevocable.

[Sidenote: Mr. W. H. Wills.]

5, HYDE PARK PLACE, LONDON, W., _Sunday, Jan. 23rd, 1870._

MY DEAR WILLS,

In the note I had from you about Nancy and Sikes, you seem to refer to some other note you had written me. Therefore I think it well merely to mention that I have received no other note.

I do not wonder at your not being up to the undertaking (even if you had had no cough) under the wearing circ.u.mstances. It was a very curious scene. The actors and actresses (most of the latter looking very pretty) mustered in extraordinary force, and were a fine audience. I set myself to carrying out of themselves and their observation, those who were bent on watching how the effects were got; and I believe I succeeded. Coming back to it again, however, I feel it was madness ever to do it so continuously. My ordinary pulse is seventy-two, and it runs up under this effort to one hundred and twelve. Besides which, it takes me ten or twelve minutes to get my wind back at all; I being, in the meantime, like the man who lost the fight--in fact, his express image. Frank Beard was in attendance to make divers experiments to report to Watson; and although, as you know, he stopped it instantly when he found me at Preston, he was very much astonished by the effects of the reading on the reader.

So I hope you may be able to come and hear it before it is silent for ever. It is done again on the evenings of the 1st February, 15th February, and 8th March. I hope, now I have got over the mornings, that I may be able to work on my book. But up to this time the great preparation required in getting the subjects up again, and the twice a week besides, have almost exclusively occupied me.

I have something the matter with my right thumb, and can't (as you see) write plainly. I sent a word to poor Robert Chambers,[32] and I send my love to Mrs. Wills.

Ever, my dear Wills, affectionately yours.

[Sidenote: Mrs. Dallas.]

OFFICE OF ”ALL THE YEAR ROUND,”

_Wednesday, Jan. 16th, 1870._

MY DEAR MRS. DALLAS,

It is perfectly delightful to me to get your fervent and sympathetic note this morning. A thousand thanks for it. I will take care that two places on the front row, by my daughter, are reserved for your occasion next time. I cannot see you in too good a seat, or too often.

Believe me, ever very faithfully yours.

[Sidenote: Mr. S. L. Fildes.]

OFFICE OF ”ALL THE YEAR ROUND,”

_Wednesday, Jan. 16th, 1870._

DEAR SIR,

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