who became Mrs. Charles Dickens fanger—pride, perhaps, or to use Nord more current. with your sex "epleit!™ My dear gift T have not the most remote intention of awaken:
such feeling. and T implore. you for (o entertain It for an instant. am very ttle your superior in years no other respect can T lay claim to the lite, but T venture neverthe-lees to give You this advice, frst because cannot' turn coolly' away where Dickens lived shortly atter and forget a slight from you as 1 might {rom any other gid t@ whom 1 was not warmly and deeply attached: Sind Secondly, because if you really Tave me T would have you do justice yourself, and shew me that your Tave for me. like mine for you, i above the ordinary" tlekery. and frivolous absurdity which debates the fame, and renders Wt tudlerous Tiave written these few lines.
te, but notin anger. Tam not angry, but I'am hurt, for the second time. "Possibly you may. not under= Stand the senae' tu which use. Word: Ito, T hope you never may. Son knew the intensity of the feeling nich has led mie to forget all_my friends "and. pursuits to "spend my. aye at your ide: It you knew but halt, he anslety with which Wwatehed your recent Ines. the" Joy With whith {hailed your "recovery, the eagerness with which T would Promote your happiness. you could more readily. understand ihe extent the pain so easily" tnficted. but dificult'to be. forgotten:
Ever yours most affectionately Catherine "Dimeult"
Should there seem a touch of the heavy father In this remonstrance, it must be remembered that Dickens was only. 23. More notable the extent' to which the letter foreshadows the complaints ften uttered, though in wiser terms, {nthe rest of the courtship correspondence. It becomes clearer and Clearer as we go on that, Catherine was. "dificult," and that Charles, being the highly strung man he was, took her too seriously.
With regard to your note, my Jove the weltes later]. Twill only say that It displays all that amiable snd excellent feeling' which 1 know You Dossess, and for which. believe from my heart, you are unrivalled: if you could only determine to shew the Sme affection and Kindness to me, when you feel" disposed to be il. tempered, 1 declare. wnaffectediy I should have mo one solitary fault %9 Bnd with you. Your asking me to Tave you "once more" is quite unnnecessary—T have never ceased Tave you for one moment, stuce Kyew you: nor shalt The Dearest Hopes The style of address varies, not unnaturally, with the tone of a letter. From "Brompton, 3 o'clock, Tues day," goes to "My ever dearest Kate" fan assurance of affection with a hint of marriage preparation:— our ttle conversation of fast night T have. presented itself to. your {ind at all since T left you, T hope it fae only Been to remind you of my. repeated, and. solemn assurances "of ctertaining for you a. love which nothing can lessen—an affection which alteration of time oF circumstance ever abate, T have the vanity to believe that these professions must De ratifying to you, knowing the Sincerity' with which they come from to say my dearest Girt that Fred (whom T saw at the effec) period. God send It may be, so. and {hat the dearest hopes 1 ever enter tained may be. realized (with your food Teave) at an even eafllcr period tran we anticipate.
By 5 o'clock on Saturday morning. "ever yours most affectionately. Charles Dickens". (with the familiar 48 povcury steer marriage, Is now a Dickens Museum and headquarters of the Dicken Fellowship, Aourish already under his signature) fas changed fis mood. "A letter hat ome for city which he has read and ferred "until my headache and the Suns appearance, have warned ie that "is Une even for poor une fortunate creature ko "myeelt to think of restand.forgetulness. for few hours" 'What. the. disturbing letter contained tz matter for spectl= ation: "it toft "three courses" {or "immediate adoption, and after Speaking bout: them. quietly with Catherine, "Dickens says, he" wanle Sinmounce' hia determination" 10 her He makes the following proposal:—
1 should tke to see you here ati xeu"con wurely comme to brea Iatspat ten Glee love thd "ell her trey" hee charac {rhe wind-heicdness "and "sod mature to: accompany" 3ou.
1 hope to be. awakened. by your tapping at my oer to the. morning indi oon Yorwerd on making" Sppearance in "you might without diticulty head ore. splendid. one my dear. gir hrough ite. 1¢ "this thought, shoul ever occur to you. when You take. Your place at it asia matter of right the only consol it wil power to offer you will be-frst the happiness and contentment that T"hope you will feel, and. secondly the possession of the interest and AMfeetion which T know your will have Romance and Camphor 'The Mary who was to accompany her sister was then 15 and was to die at 17. "young, beautiful, and ood." More than' one of Dicken's DBiographers thinks that she and not Catherine was his real love. His ariot at her sudden death was intense "and lasting: and "he always asked to be buried in her grave" From other letters it seems. that breakfast with Dickens was no unusual event for Catherine and Mary. to) The Iateness of the hour is, of course, explained by his Parliamentary" reporting forthe "Morning Chronicle." which occupied him Tong fatter a new day had dawned. There are many allusions to the sittings of the two Houses, and many apologies for not keeping engagements s0 full were his hands with the reports and the "Boz" Sketches. One. early morning note, written on returning from "Westminster, "has the post: script: "T have been indulging in a confused reverie of you, and. the tables, all the way home." A. passage another gives an idea of the frequency with which notwithstanding obstacles. the lovers "were able meet: "I have not seen you, you know dearest, since seven o'clock vyeslerday evening. Tt seems an age."
But romance succumbs to common ailments. Both Charles and Catherine suffered from time to time, and gave each other practical sympathy. Here is a little group of extracts not lacking. in evidence that both. were, for fancied themselves, adepts in dos: ing and domestic remedies:-— sed Mil at delay my coming over saying' more than that T hope you are well and have taken! some cam Dhor Julep—It not, my dearest; jam which you will find an efficacious, fud "atthe same" time agreeable medicine for your throat. T have also desired. firn "to. take sore cho!
Lime from town. 'The food tt Go in purifying the Atmosphere' of Your room will more than counter-Dalance your dislike to its smell, 1 was very unwell all last night, ana "my head though better is lat rom being. in tts usual state to-day. Should it'mot be quite well to-morrow, 7'finle Twill make-up my mind to he' bied without delay.
1 was taken 20 extremely unwell head was so extremely bad, miness affected "my sight svtaition to. which cheertl tottering legs.
Sveatance of being particularly nimi. rt immediately purchased and took a 8 framed Pill—which has quite cimowed "the egal symptoms bt [performing such singular evolu riv. interior that Tam at present unable to leave home. 1 have find other soothing preparations to "be made "without clay My cold I am sorry to bad indeed panied with a. Read-ache Unplensantries which usually "follow ain. if it should be a damp "andthe fog should continu Yoke some gruel, try. hot water for tne fects and go to" bed carly?—Lat
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.