Volume Iii Part 39 (1/2)
At the end of the year he wrote the first number of ”Bleak House,”
although it was not published until March of the following year. With the close attention and the hard work he gave, from the time of its starting, to his weekly periodical, he found it to be most desirable, now, in beginning a new monthly serial, that he should be ready with some numbers in advance before the appearance of the first number.
A provincial tour for the ”Guild” took place at the end of the year. A letter to his wife, from Clifton, in November, gives a notion of the general success and enthusiasm with which the plays were attended. The ”new Hardman,” to whom he alludes as taking that part in Sir E. B.
Lytton's comedy in the place of Mr. Forster, was Mr. John Tenniel, who was a new addition, and a very valuable and pleasant one, to the company. Mr. Topham, the delightful water-colour painter, Mr. Dudley Costello, and Mr. Wilkie Collins were also new recruits to the company of ”splendid strollers” about this time. A letter to Mr. Wills, asking him to take a part in the comedy, is given here. He never did _act_ with the company, but he complied with Charles d.i.c.kens's desire that he should be ”in the scheme” by giving it all sorts of a.s.sistance, and almost invariably being one of the party in the provincial tours.
[Sidenote: The Hon. Mrs. Watson.]
DEVONs.h.i.+RE TERRACE, _January 24th, 1851._
MY DEAR MRS. WATSON,
Kate will have told you, I daresay, that my despondency on coming to town was relieved by a talk with Lady John Russell, of which you were the subject, and in which she spoke of you with an earnestness of old affection and regard that did me good. I date my recovery (which has been slow) from that hour. I am still feeble, and liable to sudden outbursts of causeless rage and demoniacal gloom, but I shall be better presently. What a thing it is, that we can't be always innocently merry and happy with those we like best without looking out at the back windows of life! Well, one day perhaps--after a long night--the blinds on that side of the house will be down for ever, and nothing left but the bright prospect in front.
Concerning supper-toast (of which I feel bound to make some mention), you did, as you always do, right, and exactly what was most agreeable to me.
My love to your excellent husband (I wonder whether he and the dining-room have got to rights yet!), and to the jolly little boys and the calm little girl. Somehow, I shall always think of Lord Spencer as eternally walking up and down the platform at Rugby, in a high chill wind, with no apparent hope of a train--as I left him; and somehow I always think of Rockingham, after coming away, as if I belonged to it and had left a bit of my heart behind, which it is so very odd to find wanting twenty times a day.
Ever, dear Mrs. Watson, faithfully yours, and his.
[Sidenote: The same.]
DEVONs.h.i.+RE TERRACE, _Tuesday Night, Jan. 28th, 1851._
MY DEAR, DEAR MRS. WATSON,
I presume you mean Mr. Stafford and Mr. Stopford to pay Wilson (as I have instructed him) a guinea each? Am I right? In that just case I still owe you a guinea for _my_ part. I was going to send you a post-office order for that amount, when a faint sense of absurdity mantled my ingenuous visage with a blush, and I thought it better to owe you the money until we met. I hope it may be soon!
I believe I may lay claim to the mysterious inkstand, also to a volume lettered on the back, ”s.h.i.+pwrecks and Disasters at Sea, II.,” which I left when I came down at Christmas. Will you take care of them as hostages until we effect an exchange?
Charley went back in great spirits, threatening to write to George. It was a very wet night, and John took him to the railway. He said, on his return: ”Mas'r Charles went off very gay, sir. He found some young gen'lemen as was his friends in the train, sir.” ”Come,” said I, ”I am glad of that. How many were there? Two or three?” ”Oh dear, sir, there was a matter of forty, sir! All with their heads out o' the coach-windows, sir, a-hallooing 'd.i.c.kens!' all over the station!”
Her ladys.h.i.+p and the ward of the FIZ-ZISH-UN send their best loves, in which I heartily join. If you and your dear husband come to town before we bring out Bulwer's comedy, I think we must have a snug reading of it.
Ever, dear Mrs. Watson, faithfully yours.
[Sidenote: Mr. Mark Lemon.]
DEVONs.h.i.+RE TERRACE, _Friday, Jan. 31st, 1851._
MY DEAR LEMON,
We are deeply sorry to receive the mournful intelligence of your calamity. But we know you will both have found comfort in that blessed belief, from which the sacred figure with the child upon His knee is, in all stages of our lives, inseparable, for of such is the kingdom of G.o.d!
We join in affectionate loves to you and your dear wife. She well deserves your praise, I am sure.
Ever affectionately yours.