Mersey, have been told off to decorate St. George’s Hall with the ship’s bunting.  They were all hanging on aloft upside down, holding to the gigantically high roof by nothing, this morning, in the most wonderfully cheerful manner.)

My son Charley has come for the dinner, and Chappell (my Proprietor, as—­isn’t it Wemmick?—­says) is coming to-day, and Lord Dufferin (Mrs. Norton’s nephew) is to come and make the speech.  I don’t envy the feelings of my noble friend when he sees the hall.  Seriously, it is less adapted to speaking than Westminster Abbey, and is as large....

I hope you will see Fechter in a really clever piece by Wilkie.  Also you will see the Academy Exhibition, which will be a very good one; and also we will, please God, see everything and more, and everything else after that.  I begin to doubt and fear on the subject of your having a horror of me after seeing the murder.  I don’t think a hand moved while I was doing it last night, or an eye looked away.  And there was a fixed expression of horror of me, all over the theatre, which could not have been surpassed if I had been going to be hanged to that red velvet table.  It is quite a new sensation to be execrated with that unanimity; and I hope it will remain so!

    [Is it lawful—­would that woman in the black gaiters, green veil,
    and spectacles, hold it so—­to send my love to the pretty M——?]

    Pack up, my dear Fields, and be quick.

    Ever your most affectionate

    C.D.

It will be remembered that Dickens broke down entirely during the month of April, being completely worn out with hard work in the Readings.  He described to me with graphic earnestness, when we met in May, all the incidents connected with the final crisis, and I shall never forget how he imitated himself during that last Reading, when he nearly fell before the audience.  It was a terrible blow to his constitution, and only a man of the greatest strength and will could have survived it.  When we arrived in Queenstown, this note was sent on board our steamer.

    Loving welcome to England.  Hurrah!

    Office Of All The Year Round, Wednesday, May 5, 1869.

My Dear ——­:  I fear you will have been uneasy about me, and will have heard distorted accounts of the stoppage of my Readings.  It is a measure of precaution, and not of cure.  I was too tired and too jarred by the railway fast express, travelling night and day.  No half-measure could be taken; and rest being medically considered essential, we stopped.  I became, thank God, myself again, almost as soon as I could rest!  I am good for all country pleasures with you, and am looking forward to Gad’s, Rochester Castle, Cobham Park, red jackets, and Canterbury.  When you come to London we shall probably be staying at our hotel.  You will learn, here, where to find us.  I yearn to be with you both again!

    Love to M——.