“7, Lushington Road, Eastbourne,

        September 26, 1895.

Dear Mr. Hopley,—­I think you will excuse the liberty I am taking in asking you to give me some food after the service on Sunday, so that I may have no need to catch the train, but can walk back at leisure.  This will save me from the worry of trying to conclude at an exact minute, and you, perhaps, from the trouble of finding short hymns, to save time.  It will not, I hope, cause your cook any trouble, as my regular rule here is cold dinner on Sundays.  This not from any “Sabbatarian” theory, but from the wish to let our employes have the day wholly at their own disposal.

        I beg Miss Hopley’s acceptance of the enclosed papers—­
        (puzzles and diagrams.)

        Believe me, very truly yours,

        C.L.  Dodgson.”

On Sunday our grand old church was crowded, and, although our villagers are mostly agricultural labourers, yet they breathlessly listened to a sermon forty minutes long, and apparently took in every word of it.  It was quite extempore, in very simple words, and illustrated by some delightful and most touching stories of children.  I only wish there had been a shorthand-writer there.

In the vestry after service, while he was signing his name in the Preachers’ Book, a church officer handed him a bit of paper.  “Mr. Dodgson, would you very kindly write your name on that?” “Sir!” drawing himself up sternly—­“Sir, I never do that for any one”—­and then, more kindly, “You see, if I did it for one, I must do it for all.”

An amusing incident in Mr. Dodgson’s life is connected with the well-known drama, “Two Little Vagabonds.”  I give the story as he wrote it in his Diary:—­

Nov. 28_th.—­Matinee_ at the Princess’s of “Two Little Vagabonds,” a very sensational melodrama, capitally acted.  “Dick” and “Wally” were played by Kate Tyndall and Sydney Fairbrother, whom I guess to be about fifteen and twelve.  Both were excellent, and the latter remarkable for the perfect realism of her acting.  There was some beautiful religious dialogue between “Wally” and a hospital nurse—­ most reverently spoken, and reverently received by the audience.

Dec. 17_th._—­I have given books to Kate Tyndall and Sydney Fairbrother, and have heard from them, and find I was entirely mistaken in taking them for children.  Both are married women!

The following is an extract from a letter written in 1896 to one of his sisters, in allusion to a death which had recently occurred in the family:—­