Part 30 (1/2)

He even objected to having his books discussed in his presence; thus he writes to a friend:--

Your friend, Miss--was very kind and complimentary about nored? Perhaps I a talked to about them; and consequently have some trials to bear in society, which otherould be no trials at all I don't think any of e-friends have any shyness at all about being talked to of their perforhly enjoy the publicity that I shrink fro letters were addressed, Miss Gaynor Simpson, was one of Lewis Carroll's Guildford friends The correct answer to the riddle propounded in the second letter is ”Copal”:--

_December_ 27, 1873

My dear Gaynor,--My nason_” Any one who spells it the same as that wretch (I mean of course the Chairman of Committees in the House of Co I _can_ forget, but _never can forgive! _If you do it again, I shall call you ”'aynor” Could you live happy with such a na, my dear, I _never_ dance, unless I am allowed to do it _into describe it: it has to be seen to be believed

The last house I tried it in, the floor broke through But then it was a poor sort of floor--the bea beams at all: stone arches are , _of my peculiar kind_, is to be done Did you ever see the Rhinoceros, and the Hippopotaether? It is a touching sight

Give any e from me to Amy that you think will be most likely to surprise her, and, believe me,

Your affectionate friend,

Lewis Carroll

My dear Gaynor,--So you would like to know the answer to that riddle? Don't be in a hurry to tell it to Amy and Frances: triumph over thee into trade

_Gain_ Who would go into trade if there were no gain in it?

My second in jollifications--

_Or_ [The French for ”gold”--] Your jollifications would be _very_ limited if you had no money

My whole, laid on thinnish, imparts a neat finish To pictorial representations

_Gaynor_ Because she will be an ornament to the Shakespeare Charades--only she must be ”laid on thinnish,”

that is, _there musn't be too son

My dear Gaynor,--Forgive in with

My first--_Sea_ It carries the shi+ps of the ar, an article much used in jollifications

My whole--_Seaweed_ Take a newly painted oil-picture; lay it on its back on the floor, and spread over it, ”thinnish,”

some wet seaweed You will find you have ”finished” that picture

Yours affectionately,

CL Dodgson

Lewis Carroll during the last fifteen years of his life always spent the Long Vacation at Eastbourne; in earlier times, Sandown, a pleasant little seaside resort in the Isle of Wight, was his summer abode He loved the sea both for its own sake and because of the number of children who”; this time it is at Sandown, and Miss Gertrude Chataway is the narrator:--