A’s object is to force B to use as many colours as
    possible.

    How many can he force B to use?

One of his most amusing letters was to a little girl called Magdalen, to whom he had given a copy of his “Hunting of the Snark":—­

    Christ Church, December 15, 1875.

My dear Magdalen,—­I want to explain to you why I did not call yesterday.  I was sorry to miss you, but you see I had so many conversations on the way.  I tried to explain to the people in the street that I was going to see you, but they wouldn’t listen; they said they were in a hurry, which was rude.  At last I met a wheelbarrow that I thought would attend to me, but I couldn’t make out what was in it.  I saw some features at first, then I looked through a telescope, and found it was a countenance; then I looked through a microscope, and found it was a face!  I thought it was father like me, so I fetched a large looking-glass to make sure, and then to my great joy I found it was me.  We shook hands, and were just beginning to talk, when myself came up and joined us, and we had quite a pleasant conversation.  I said, “Do you remember when we all met at Sandown?” and myself said, “It was very jolly there; there was a child called Magdalen,” and me said, “I used to like her a little; not much, you know—­only a little.”  Then it was time for us to go to the train, and who do you think came to the station to see us off?  You would never guess, so I must tell you.  They were two very dear friends of mine, who happen to be here just now, and beg to be allowed to sign this letter as your affectionate friends,

    Lewis Carroll and C.L.  Dodgson.

Another child-friend, Miss F. Bremer, writes as follows:—­

Our acquaintance began in a somewhat singular manner.  We were playing on the Fort at Margate, and a gentleman on a seat near asked us if we could make a paper boat, with a seat at each end, and a basket in the middle for fish!  We were, of course, enchanted with the idea, and our new friend—­after achieving the feat—­gave us his card, which we at once carried to our mother.  He asked if he might call where we were staying, and then presented my elder sister with a copy of “Alice in Wonderland,” inscribed “From the Author.”  He kindly organised many little excursions for us—­chiefly in the pursuit of knowledge.  One memorable visit to a light house is still fresh in our memories.

It was while calling one day upon Mrs. Bremer that he scribbled off the following double acrostic on the names of her two daughters—­

        DOUBLE ACROSTIC—­FIVE LETTERS.

        Two little girls near London dwell,
        More naughty than I like to tell.

                         1. 
        Upon the lawn the hoops are seen: 
        The balls are rolling on the green.  T ur F

                         2. 
        The Thames is running deep and wide: 
        And boats are rowing on the tide.  R ive R