m 
 
I s&/ 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 BEQUEST 
 
 OF 
 
 ANITA D. S. BLAKE 
 
tt 
 
 »l- 
 
 *\ 
 
Being 
 
 l»H* Own h 
 
 A RJECI77\L OF 
 
 FACTS 
 
 yMjWfflm fxmM 
 
 ■ HIT- v 
 
 PMLE^lCKENsl 
 
 
 Respecting it 
 
 
 iipiBBi' y 
 
 
 
 ^ " n 
 
 ''i^k^mwtf.i 
 
STANDAR BOOKS. 
 
 Important and Interesting Book of Travels. 
 
 UNEXPLORED BALUCHISTAN: a Survey, with Observa- 
 tions Astronomical, Geographical, Botanical, &c, of a 
 Route through Western Baluchistan, Mekran, Basha- 
 kird, Persia, Kurdistan, and Turkey. By E. A. 
 Floyer, F.R.G.S., F.L.S., &C. With Twelve Il- 
 lustrations and a Map. Price 28s. 
 
 THE COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS OF THE SEA ; or, Marin* 
 
 Contributions to Industry and Art. By P. L. Sim- 
 monds, Author of "The Commercial Products of th( 
 Vegetable Kingdom." With numerous Illustrations, 
 price 1 6s. 
 
 THE CRIMEAN CAMPAIGN W TH THE CONNAUGH 1 ] 
 RANGERS, 1854 — 55 — 56. By Lieut. - Colone 
 Nathaniel Steevens, late 88th (Connaught Rangers), 
 Demy 8vo, with Map, cloth, 15s. 
 
 AFGHANISTAN : A Short Account of Afghanistan, its histon 
 
 and our dealings with it. By P. F. Walker, Barrister 
 at-Law (late 75th Regiment). Cloth 2s. 6d. 
 
 GRIFFITH & FARRAN, 
 West Corner of St Paul's Churchyard, .London, 
 
A WONDERFUL GHOST STORY. 
 
LETTERS FROM CHARLES DICKENS 
 HITHERTO UNPUBLISHED. 
 
 
 Gad's Hill Place, 
 
 higham-by-rochester, kent, 
 
 Sunday, Sept. \$th, 1861. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Allow me to express to you 
 the sincere regret I feel that your 
 most remarkable story (which I have 
 read with great interest) should have 
 been innocently forestalled in the pages 
 of my journal. At the same time, I must 
 add that your own version of the expe- 
 rience is so very curious, and so much 
 
8 Letters. 
 
 more striking than the account sent to 
 
 me, that I shall be happy to publish it in 
 
 All the Year Rozind, if you should feel 
 
 disposed to entrust it to me for that 
 
 purpose. 
 
 I received the story published in that 
 journal first among the ° Four Ghost 
 Stories," from a gentleman of a distin- 
 guished position, both literary and social, 
 who, I do not doubt, is well known to 
 you by reputation. He did not send it 
 to me as his own, but as the work of a 
 young writer in whom he feels an interest, 
 and who previously contributed (all 
 through him) another ghost story. I 
 will immediately let him know what 
 
Letters, g 
 
 correspondence I have had with you, 
 and you shall be made acquainted with 
 the nature of his reply. 
 
 You may be quite certain, I feel sure, 
 that there has been no betrayal of confi- 
 dence on the part of any one connected 
 with the magazine for whom you re- 
 served your story. It must have been 
 repeatedly told (though probably never 
 correctly) in more circles than one. It 
 happens that Mr Layard is staying here 
 with me, and instantly recognised the 
 version printed in All the Year Round, 
 as a version of a story he heard at Sir 
 Edward Lytton's, in Hertfordshire, some 
 time since. 
 
io Letters. 
 
 As I do not feel myself authorised in 
 retaining your MS. without your consent 
 I beg to return it herewith. But I am 
 anxious to repeat my readiness to pur- 
 chase it for publication in All the Year 
 Round, as the authentic story. Its in- 
 terest seems to me to be heightened, 
 rather than impaired, by its having been 
 imperfectly told. 
 
 Again expressing my regret that I 
 should have been, however innocently 
 and unconsciously, the cause of a mo- 
 ment's annoyance to you, 
 
 I am, dear Sir, faithfully yours, 
 
 Charles Dickens. 
 Thomas Heaphy, Esq. 
 
Gad's Hill Place, 
 
 HlGHAM-BY-ROCHESTER, KENT, 
 
 Tuesday, Sept. 17///, 1861. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 I think I can show you in a very 
 few words, not only that your lingering 
 suspicion is groundless, but that every- 
 thing associated with your strange ex- 
 perience would seem to be extraordi- 
 nary. In the version I received and 
 published, there was no date. All that 
 was set down as to time was " late in 
 
1 2 Letters. 
 
 the autumn." When I came to revise 
 the story in the proof for press, the need 
 of some precise date was so clear to me, 
 that I myself inserted on the margin of 
 the proof the date you find in the pub- 
 lished narrative. Why that date should 
 have come into my head rather than 
 any other, I am profoundly unable to 
 say. Mr Layard remembers that it is 
 more than a year since he heard Sir 
 Edward Lytton tell the story, and he 
 says he has a strong impression that he 
 laid it on the table in writing. More- 
 over, Mr Layard is convinced that he 
 has since seen it in print, though he 
 cannot recollect where. I have written 
 
Letters. \ 3 
 
 to Sir Edward to ask him how he came 
 by it. His answer will, no doubt, have 
 an interest for you, and I will let you 
 know the purport in due course. I read 
 Mr Layard your own account, and he 
 was quite clear in his remembrance that 
 Sir Edward's version of it fell as far 
 short as my contributor's does. I think 
 
 it would be best to call it Mr H f s 
 
 Own Narrative, or Mr H '$ Own 
 
 Evidence, and I will introduce it with a 
 few lines referring to the version al- 
 ready printed, and calling attention to it 
 as being the authentic story given at 
 first-hand. There is no doubt that it 
 ought to appear as soon after the wrong 
 
 B 
 
14 Letters. 
 
 version as possible. I will therefore 
 place it in the number I shall make up 
 to-morrow, which will be published to- 
 morrow fortnight. I will send you a 
 proof from the office in the course of 
 to-morrow, and I must ask you to have 
 the kindness to return it on Thursday, 
 as we publish simultaneously in America 
 and London, and the sheets go across 
 the Atlantic by the next mail. 
 
 Dear sir, faithfully yours, 
 
 Charles Dickens. 
 Thomas Heaphy, Esq. 
 
 P.S. — I observed in your narrative 
 that you mention the young lady's eating 
 
Letters. 1 5 
 
 the beef and drinking the claret. Do 
 you remember whether the joint was 
 placed on the table or carved on the 
 sideboard ? and whether you seemed to 
 see the figure served as the three mortals 
 were, or seemed to find it already carved 
 without noticing the progress ? 
 
Office of " All the Year Round," 
 Friday, Sept 20th, 1861. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Mr Layard has not been able 
 to remember where or when he saw 
 some version of your story in print. Sir 
 Edward Lytton received his version in 
 writing from Mr Edward Ward. Sir 
 Edward informs me that his version was 
 very superior to that published here, 
 I therefore suppose it is told nearer your 
 own. He is searching for the MS., but 
 
Letters. 1 7 
 
 has not yet been able to lay his hand 
 upon it. 
 
 Faithfully yours, 
 
 Charles Dickens. 
 
 Thomas Heaphy, Esq. 
 
Extract, re " Mr H!s Own Narrative" 
 from John Forsters " Life of Charles 
 Dickens" vol. Hi., page 483. 
 
 " Among his good things (Charles 
 Dickens') should not be omitted his 
 telling of a ghost story. He had some- 
 thing of a hankering after them, as the 
 readers of his briefer pieces well know ; 
 and such was his interest generally in 
 things supernatural that, but for the 
 strong restraining power of his common 
 sense, he might have fallen into the 
 follies of Spiritualism. As it was, the 
 
extract. 1 9 
 
 fanciful side of his nature stopped short 
 at such pardonable superstitions as those 
 of dreams and lucky days, or other 
 marvels of natural coincidence ; and no 
 man was readier to apply sharp tests to 
 a ghost story or a haunted house, though 
 there was just so much tendency to 
 believe in any such ' well authenticated ' 
 as made perfect his manner of telling 
 one. Such a story is related in the 
 125th number of All the Year Round % 
 which before its publication both Mr 
 Layard and myself saw at Gad's Hill, 
 and identified as one related by Lord 
 Lytton. It was published in September, 
 and in a day or two led to what Dickens 
 
20 Extract. 
 
 will relate : — ' The artist himself, who 
 is the hero of that story (to Lord Lytton, 
 15th September 1861), has sent me in 
 black and white his own account of the 
 whole experience, so very original, so 
 very extraordinary, so very far beyond 
 the version I have published, that all 
 other stories turn pale before it.' 
 
 " The ghost story thus reinforced 
 came out in the number published on 
 the 5th of October ; and the reader who 
 cares to turn to it and compare what 
 Dickens in the interval (17th of Sep- 
 tember) wrote to myself will have some 
 measure of his readiness to believe in 
 such things. Upon the publication of 
 
Extract. 2 1 
 
 the ghost story up has started the 
 portrait-painter who saw the phantoms ! 
 His own written story is out of all 
 distance the most extraordinary that was 
 ever produced, and is as far beyond my 
 version of Bulwer's as Scott is beyond 
 James. Everything connected with it 
 is amazing, but conceive this — the 
 portrait-painter had been engaged to 
 write it elsewhere as a story for next 
 Christmas, and not unnaturally supposed, 
 when he saw himself anticipated in All 
 the Year Round, that there had been 
 treachery at his printers. ' In particular/ 
 says he (Mr H.), 'how else was it pos- 
 sible that the date, the 1 3th of Septem- 
 
2 2 Extract. 
 
 ber, could have been got at ? For I 
 never told the date until I wrote it/ 
 Now, my story had no date ; but seeing 
 when I looked over the proof, the great 
 importance of having a date, I (C. D.) 
 wrote in unconsciously the exact date on 
 the margin of the proof." 
 
MR h:s own narrative. 
 
 There was lately published in All the 
 Year Roimd a paper entitled Four 
 Stories. The first of those stories 
 related the strange experience of "a 
 well-known English artist, Mr H." On 
 the publication of that account, Mr H. 
 himself addressed the conductor of the 
 above Journal (to his great surprise), 
 and forwarded to him his own narrative 
 of the occurrences in question. 
 
 As Mr H. wrote, without any con- 
 
24 Mr H!s Own Narrative. 
 
 cealment, in his own name in full, and 
 from his own studio in London, and as 
 there was no possible doubt of his being 
 a real existing person and a responsible 
 gentleman, it became a duty to read his 
 communication attentively. And great 
 injustice having been unconsciously done 
 to it, in the version published as the 
 first of the " Four Stories," it follows 
 here exactly as received. It is, of 
 course, published with the sanction and 
 authority of Mr H., and Mr H. has 
 himself corrected the proofs. 
 
 Entering on no theory of our own 
 towards the explanation of any part of 
 this remarkable narrative, we have pre- 
 
Mr H.'s Own Narrative. 25 
 
 vailed on Mr H. to present it without 
 any introductory remarks whatever. It 
 only remains to add, that no one has for 
 a moment stood between us and Mr H. 
 in this matter. The whole communica 
 tion is at first hand. On seeing the 
 article, " Four Stories," Mr H. frankly 
 and good-humouredly wrote, " I am the 
 Mr H., the living man, of whom mention 
 is made ; how my story has been picked 
 up, I do not know, but it is not correctly 
 told ; I have it by me, written by 
 myself, and here it is." 
 
A WONDERFUL GHOST STORY. 
 
 I am a painter. One morning in May 
 1858, I was seated in my studio at my 
 usual occupation. At an earlier hour 
 than that at which visits are usually made, 
 I received one from a friend whose ac- 
 quaintance I had made some year or two 
 previously in Richmond Barracks, Dublin. 
 My acquaintance was a captain in the 
 3rd West York Militia, and from the 
 hospitable manner in which I had been 
 received while a guest with that regi- 
 ment, as well as from the intimacy that 
 
A Wonderful Ghost Story. 2 7 
 
 existed between us personally, it was 
 incumbent on me to offer my visitor 
 suitable refreshments ; consequently, two 
 o'clock found us well occupied in conver- 
 sation, cigars, and a decanter of sherry. 
 About that hour a ring at the bell re- 
 minded me of an engagement I had 
 made with a model, or a young person 
 who, having a pretty face and neck, 
 earned a livelihood by sitting for them 
 to artists. Not being in the humour for 
 work, I arranged with her to come on 
 the following day, promising, of course, 
 to remunerate her for her loss of time, 
 and she went away. In about five 
 minutes she returned, and, speaking to 
 
28 A Wonderful Ghost Story. 
 
 me privately, stated that she had looked 
 forward to the money for the days sit- 
 ting and would be inconvenienced by the 
 want of it ; would I let her have a part ? 
 There being no difficulty on this point, 
 she again went. Close to the street in 
 which I live there is another of a very 
 similar name, and persons who are not 
 familiar with my address often go to it 
 by mistake. The models way lay 
 directly through it, and, on arriving 
 there, she was accosted by a lady and 
 gentleman, who asked if she could in- 
 form them where I lived ? They had 
 forgotten my right address, and were 
 endeavouring to find me by inquiring of 
 
A Wonderftd Ghost Story. 29 
 
 persons whom they met ; in a few more 
 minutes they were shown into my room. 
 My new visitors were strangers to me. 
 They had seen a portrait I had painted, 
 and wished for likenesses of themselves 
 and their children. The price I named 
 did not deter them, and they asked to 
 look round the studio to select the style 
 and size they should prefer. My friend 
 of the 3rd West York, with infinite ad- 
 dress and humour, took upon himself the 
 office of showman, dilating on the merits 
 of the respective works in a manner that 
 the diffidence that is expected in a pro- 
 fessional man, when speaking of his own 
 productions, would not have allowed me 
 c 
 
30 A Wonderful Ghost Story. 
 
 to adopt. The inspection proving satis- 
 factory, they asked whether I could paint 
 the pictures at their house in the country, 
 and there being no difficulty on this 
 point, an engagement was made for the 
 following autumn, subject to my writing 
 to fix the time when I might be able to 
 leave town for the purpose. This being 
 adjusted, the gentleman gave me his 
 card, and they left. Shortly afterwards 
 my friend went also, and on looking for 
 the first time at the card left by the 
 strangers, I was somewhat disappointed 
 to find that though it contained the name 
 of Mr and Mrs Kirkbeck, there was no 
 address. I tried to find it by looking at 
 
A Wonderful Ghost Story. 3 1 
 
 the Court Guide, but it contained no 
 such name, so I put the card in my 
 writing-desk, and forgot for a time the 
 entire transaction. 
 
 Autumn came, and with it a series 
 of engagements I had made in the 
 north of England. Towards the end 
 of September 1858, I was one of a 
 dinner-party at a country-house on the 
 confines of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. 
 Being a stranger to the family, it was 
 by a mere accident that I was at the 
 house at all. I had arranged to pass 
 a day and a night with a friend in the 
 neighbourhood, who was intimate at 
 the house, and had received an invita* 
 
32 A Wonderful Ghost Story. 
 
 tion, and the dinner occurring on the 
 evening in question, I had been asked 
 to accompany him. The party was a 
 numerous one, and as the meal ap- 
 proached its termination, and was about 
 to subside into the dessert, the con- 
 versation became general. I should 
 here mention that my hearing is defec- 
 tive ; at some times more so than at 
 others, and on this particular evening 
 I was extra deaf — so much so, that 
 the conversation only reached me in 
 the form of a continued din. At one 
 instant, however, I heard a word dis- 
 tinctly pronounced, though it was 
 uttered by a person at a considerable 
 
A Wonderful Ghost Story. 33 
 
 distance from me, and that word was 
 — Kirkbeck. In the business of the 
 London season I had forgotten all 
 about the visitors of the spring, who 
 had left their card without the address. 
 The word reaching me under such cir- 
 cumstances arrested my attention, and 
 immediately recalled the transaction to 
 my remembrance. On the first oppor- 
 tunity that offered, I asked a person 
 whom I was conversing with if a 
 family of the name in question was 
 resident in the neighbourhood. I was 
 told, in reply, that a Mr Kirkbeck 
 
 lived at A , at the farther end of 
 
 the county. The next morning I wrote 
 
34 A Wonderful Ghost Story. 
 
 to this person, saying that I believed 
 he called at my studio in the spring, 
 and had made an arrangement with 
 me, which I was prevented fulfilling 
 by there being no address on his card ; 
 furthermore, that I should shortly be 
 in his neighbourhood on my return 
 from the north, but should I be mis- 
 taken in addressing him, I begged 
 he would not trouble himself to reply 
 to my note. I gave as my address, 
 The Post-office, York. On applying 
 there three days afterwards, I received 
 a note from Mr Kirkbeck, stating that 
 he was very glad he had heard from 
 me, and that if I would call on my 
 
A Wonderful Ghost Story, 
 
 return, he would arrange about the 
 pictures ; he also told me to write a 
 day before I proposed coming, that he 
 might not otherwise engage himself. 
 It was ultimately arranged that I should 
 go to his house the succeeding Satur- 
 day, stay till Monday morning, transact 
 afterwards what matters I had to attend 
 to in London, and return in a fort- 
 night to execute the commissions. 
 
 The day having arrived for my visit, 
 directly after breakfast I took my place 
 in the morning train from York to 
 London. The train would stop at Don- 
 caster, and after that at Retford junction, 
 where I should have to p*et out in order 
 
36 A Wonderful Ghost Story. 
 
 to take the line through Lincoln to 
 
 A . The day was cold, wet, foggy, 
 
 and in every way as disagreeable as I 
 have ever known a day to be in an 
 English October. The carriage in which 
 I was seated had no other occupant 
 than myself, but at Doncaster a lady got 
 in. My place was back to the engine 
 and next to the door. As that is con- 
 sidered the ladies' seat, I offered it to 
 her ; she, however, very graciously de- 
 clined it, and took the corner opposite, 
 saying, in a very agreeable voice, that 
 she liked to feel the breeze on her cheek. 
 The next few minutes were occupied in 
 locating herself. There was the cloak 
 
A Wonderful Ghost Story. 37 
 
 to be spread under her, the skirts of the 
 dress to be arranged, the gloves to be 
 tightened, and such other trifling ar- 
 rangements of plumage as ladies are 
 wont to make before settling themselves 
 comfortably at church or elsewhere, the 
 last and most important being the plac- 
 ing back over her hat the veil that con- 
 cealed her features. I could then see 
 that the lady was young, certainly not 
 more than two or three-and-twenty ; but 
 being moderately tall, rather robust in 
 make, and decided in expression, she 
 might have been two or three years 
 younger. I suppose that her complexion 
 would be termed a medium one ; her 
 
38 A Wonderful Ghost Story. 
 
 hair being of a bright brown, or auburn, 
 while her eyes and rather decidedly 
 marked eyebrows were nearly black. 
 The colour of her cheek was of that pale 
 transparent hue that sets off to such 
 advantage large expressive eyes, and 
 an equable firm expression of mouth. 
 On the whole, the ensemble was rather 
 handsome than beautiful, her expression 
 having that agreeable depth and har- 
 mony about it that rendered her face 
 and features, though not strictly regular, 
 infinitely more attractive than if they had 
 been modelled upon the strictest rules of 
 symmetry. 
 
 It is no small advantage on a wet 
 
A Wonderful Ghost Story. 39 
 
 day and a dull long journey to have an 
 agreeable companion ; one who can con- 
 verse, and whose conversation has suffi- 
 cient substance in it to make one forget 
 the length and the dreariness of the 
 journey. In this respect I had no de- 
 ficiency to complain of, the lady being 
 decidedly and agreeably conversational. 
 When she had settled herself to her 
 satisfaction, she asked to be allowed to 
 look at my Bradshaw, and not being a 
 proficient in that difficult work, she 
 requested my aid in ascertaining at what 
 time the train passed through Retford 
 again on its way back from London to 
 York. The conversation turned after- 
 
40 A Wonderfod Ghost Story. 
 
 wards on general topics, and, somewhat 
 to my surprise, she led it into such par- 
 ticular subjects as I might be supposed 
 to be more especially familiar with ; 
 indeed, I could not avoid remarking 
 that her entire manner, while it was 
 anything but forward, was that of one 
 who had either known me personally or 
 by report. There was in her manner a 
 kind of confidential reliance when she 
 listened to me, that is not usually ac- 
 corded to a stranger, and sometimes she 
 actually seemed to refer to different 
 circumstances with which I had been 
 connected in times past. After about 
 three-quarters of an hour's conversation 
 
r onderful Ghost Story. 4] 
 
 the train arrived at Retford, where I 
 was to change carriages. On my alight- 
 ing and wishing her good morning, she 
 made a slight movement of the hand, as 
 if she meant me to shake it, and on my 
 doing so she said, by way of adieu, " I 
 dare say we shall meet again ;" to which 
 I replied, " I hope that we shall all meet 
 again," and so parted, she going on the 
 line towards London, and I through 
 
 Lincolnshire to A . The remainder 
 
 of the journey was cold, wet, and dreary. 
 I missed the agreeable conversation, 
 and tried to supply its place with a book 
 I had brought with me from York, and 
 the Times newspaper, which I had pro- 
 
42 A Wonderful Ghost Story. 
 
 cured at Retford. But the most dis- 
 agreeable journey comes to an end at 
 last, and half-past five in the evening 
 found me at the termination of mine. 
 A carriage was waiting for me at the 
 station, where Mr Kirkbeck was also 
 expected by the same train, but as he 
 did not appear, it was concluded he 
 would come by the next — half an hour 
 later ; accordingly, the carriage drove 
 away with myself only. 
 
 The family being from home at the 
 moment, and the dinner hour being 
 seven, I went at once to my room to un- 
 pack and to dress; having completed 
 these operations, I descended to the 
 
A Wonderful Ghost Story. 43 
 
 drawing-room. It probably wanted some 
 time to the dinner hour, as the lamps 
 were not lighted, but in their place a 
 large blazing fire threw a flood of light 
 into every corner of the room, and more 
 especially over a lady who, dressed in 
 deep black, was standing by the chim- 
 ney-piece warming a very handsome 
 foot on the edge of the fender. Her face 
 being turned away from the door by 
 which I had entered, I did not at first 
 see her features ; on my advancing into 
 the middle of the room, however, the 
 foot was immediately withdrawn, and 
 she turned round to accost me, when, to 
 my profound astonishment, I perceived 
 
44 A Wonderftd Ghost Story. 
 
 that it was none other than my com- 
 panion in the railway carriage. She be- 
 trayed no surprise at seeing me ; on the 
 contrary, with one of those agreeable 
 joyous expressions that make the plainest 
 woman appear beautiful, she accosted 
 me with, M I said we should meet 
 again." 
 
 My bewilderment at the moment 
 almost deprived me of utterance. I 
 knew of no railway or other means by 
 which she could have come. I had cer- 
 tainly left her in a London train, and 
 had seen it start, and the only con- 
 ceivable way in which she could have 
 come was by going on to Peterborough, 
 
A Wonderful Ghost Story. 45 
 
 and then returning by a branch to A , 
 
 a circuit of about ninety miles. As soon 
 as my surprise enabled me to speak, I 
 said that I wished I had come by the 
 same conveyance as herself. 
 
 " That would have been rather diffi- 
 cult," she rejoined. 
 
 At this moment the servant came with 
 the lamps, and informed me that his 
 master had just arrived, and would be 
 down in a few minutes. 
 
 The lady took up a book containing 
 some engravings, and having singled one 
 
 out (a portrait of Lady ), asked me 
 
 to look at it well and tell her whether I 
 thought it like her. 
 
 D 
 
46 A Wonderful Ghost Story. 
 
 I was engaged trying to get up an 
 opinion, when Mr and Mrs Kirkbeck 
 entered, and shaking me heartily by the 
 hand, apologised for not being at home 
 to receive me ; the gentleman ending by 
 requesting me to take Mrs Kirkbeck in 
 to dinner. 
 
 The lady of the house having taken 
 my arm, we marched on. I certainly 
 hesitated a moment to allow Mr Kirk- 
 beck to pass on first with the mysterious 
 lady in black, but Mrs Kirkbeck not 
 seeming to understand it we passed on at 
 once. The dinner-party consisting of us 
 four only, we fell into our respective 
 places at the table without difficulty, the 
 
A Wonderful Ghost Story. 47 
 
 mistress and master of the house at the 
 top and bottom, the lady in black and 
 myself on each side. The dinner passed 
 much as is usual on such occasions. I, 
 having to play the guest directed my 
 conversation principally, if not exclu- 
 sively to my host and hostess, and I 
 cannot call to mind that I or any one 
 else once addressed the lady opposite. 
 Seeing this, and remembering something 
 that looked like a slight want of atten- 
 tion to her on coming into the dining- 
 room, I at once concluded that she was 
 the governess. I observed, however, that 
 she made an excellent dinner; she seemed 
 to appreciate both the beef and the tart, 
 
48 A Wonderful Ghost Story. 
 
 as well as a glass of claret afterwards ; 
 probably she had had no luncheon, or 
 the journey had given her an appetite. 
 
 The dinner ended, the ladies retired, 
 and after the usual port, Mr Kirkbeck 
 and I joined them in the drawing-room. 
 By this time, however, a much larger 
 party had assembled. Brothers and 
 sisters-in-law had come in from their 
 residences in the neighbourhood, and 
 several children, with Miss Hardwick, 
 their governess, were also introduced to 
 me. I saw at once that my supposition 
 as to the lady in black being the gover- 
 ness was incorrect. After passing the 
 time necessarily occupied in compliment- 
 
A Wonderful Ghost Story. 49 
 
 ing the children, and saying something 
 to the different persons to whom I was 
 introduced, I found myself again engaged 
 in conversation with the lady of the rail- 
 way carriage, and as the topic of the 
 evening had referred principally to por- 
 trait-painting, she continued the subject. 
 
 " Do you think you could paint my 
 portrait ? " the lady inquired. 
 
 "Yes, I think I could, if I had the 
 opportunity/' 
 
 " Now, look at my face well ; do you 
 think you should recollect my features ? " 
 
 " Yes, I am sure I should never forget 
 your features." 
 
 " Of course I might have expected 
 
50 A Wonderful Ghost Story. 
 
 you to say that ; but do you think you 
 could do me from recollection ? " 
 
 " Well, if it be necessary, I will try ; 
 but can't you give me any sittings ? " 
 
 " No, quite impossible ; it could not 
 be. It is said that the print I showed to 
 you before dinner is like me; do you 
 think so ? " 
 
 " Not much," I replied ; " it has not 
 your expression. If you can give me 
 only one sitting, it would be better than 
 none." 
 
 " No ; I don't see how it could be." 
 
 The evening being by this time rather 
 far advanced, and the chamber candles 
 being brought in, on the plea of being 
 
A Wonderful Ghost Story. 5 1 
 
 rather tired, she shook me heartily by 
 the hand, and wished me good night. 
 My mysterious acquaintance caused me 
 no small pondering during the night. I 
 had never been introduced to her, I had 
 not seen her speak to any one during 
 the entire evening, not even to wish 
 them good night — how she got across 
 the country was an inexplicable mys- 
 tery. Then why did she wish me to 
 paint her from memory, and why could 
 she not give me even one sitting ? 
 Finding the difficulties of a solution to 
 these questions rather increased upon 
 me, I made up my mind to defer 
 further consideration of them till break- 
 
52 A Wonderful Ghost Story, 
 
 fast-time, when I supposed the matter 
 would receive some elucidation. 
 
 The breakfast now came, but with it 
 no lady in black. The breakfast over, 
 we went to church, came home to 
 luncheon, and so on through the day, 
 but still no lady, neither any reference 
 to her. I then concluded that she must 
 be some relative, who had gone away 
 early in the morning to visit another 
 member of the family living close by. 
 I was much puzzled, however, by no 
 reference whatever being made to her, 
 and finding no opportunity of leading 
 any part of my conversation with the 
 family towards the subject, I went to 
 
A Wonder/id Ghost Story. 53 
 
 bed the second night more puzzled than 
 ever. On the servant coming in in the 
 morning, I ventured to ask him the 
 name of the lady who dined at the table 
 on the Saturday evening, to which he 
 answered : 
 
 "A lady, sir? No lady, only Mrs 
 Kirkbeck, sir." 
 
 " Yes, the lady that sat opposite me 
 dressed in black ? " 
 
 " Perhaps Miss Hard wick, the gover- 
 ness, sir?" 
 
 " No, not Miss Hardwick ; she came 
 down afterwards." 
 
 " No lady as I see, sir." 
 
 " O dear me, yes, the lady dressed in 
 
54 A Wonderful Ghost Story. 
 
 black that was in the drawing-room 
 when I arrived, before Mr Kirkbeck 
 came home ? " 
 
 The man looked at me with surprise 
 as if he doubted my sanity, and only 
 answered, " I never see any lady, sir," 
 and then left. 
 
 The mystery now appeared more 
 impenetrable than ever — I thought it 
 over in every possible aspect, but could 
 come to no conclusion upon it. Break- 
 fast was early that morning, in order 
 to allow of my catching the morning 
 train to London. The same cause 
 also slightly hurried us, and allowed 
 no time for conversation beyond that 
 
A Wonderful Ghost Story. 55 
 
 having direct reference to the business 
 that brought me there; so, after ar- 
 ranging to return to paint the portraits 
 on that day three weeks, I made my 
 adieus, and took my departure for town. 
 It is only necessary for me to refer 
 to my second visit to that house, in 
 order to state that I was assured most 
 positively, both by Mr and Mrs Kirk- 
 beck, that no fourth person dined at 
 the table on the Saturday evening in 
 question. Their recollection was clear 
 on the subject, as they had debated 
 whether they should ask Miss Hard- 
 wick, the governess, to take the vacant 
 seat, but had decided not to do so ; 
 
56 A Wonderful Ghost Story. 
 
 neither could they recall to mind any- 
 such person as I described in the whole 
 circle of their acquaintance. 
 
 Some weeks passed. It was close 
 upon Christmas. The light of a short 
 winter day was drawing to a close, and 
 I was seated at my table, writing letters 
 for the evening post. ' My back was 
 towards the folding-doors leading into 
 the room in which my visitors usually 
 waited. I had been engaged [some 
 minutes in writing, when without hear- 
 ing or seeing anything, I became aware 
 that a person had come through the 
 folding-doors, and was then standing 
 beside me. I turned, and beheld the 
 
A Wonderful Ghost Story. ■ 5 7 
 
 lady of the railway carriage. I sup- 
 pose that my manner indicated that I 
 was somewhat startled, as the lady, after 
 the usual salutation, said, " Pardon me 
 for disturbing you. You did not hear 
 me come in." Her manner, though it 
 was more quiet and subdued than I 
 had known it before, was hardly to be 
 termed grave, still less sorrowful. There 
 was a change, but it was that kind of 
 change only which may often be ob- 
 served from the frank impulsiveness of 
 an intelligent young lady, to the com- 
 posure and self-possession of that same 
 young lady when she is either betrothed 
 or has recently become a matron. She 
 
58 A Wondei'ftil Ghost Story. 
 
 asked me whether I had made any 
 attempt at a likeness of her. I was 
 obliged to confess that I had not. She 
 regretted it much, as she wished one 
 for her father. She had brought an 
 engraving (a portrait of Lady M. A.) 
 with her that she thought would assist 
 me. It was like the one she had asked 
 my opinion upon at the house in Lin- 
 colnshire. It had always been con- 
 sidered very like her, and she would 
 leave it with me. Then (putting her 
 hand impressively on my arm) she 
 added, "She really would be most 
 thankful and grateful to me if I would 
 do it'' (and if I recollect rightly, she 
 
A Wonderful Ghost Story. 59 
 
 added), "as much depended on it!' See- 
 ing she was so much in earnest, I took 
 up my sketch-book, and by the dim 
 light that was still remaining began to 
 make a rapid pencil sketch of her. On 
 observing my doing so, however, instead 
 of giving me what assistance she was 
 able, she turned away under pretence 
 of looking at the pictures around the 
 room, occasionally passing from one to 
 another so as to enable me to catch a 
 momentary glimpse of her features. In 
 this manner I made two hurried but 
 rather expressive sketches of her, which 
 being all that the declining light would 
 allow me to do, I shut my book, and 
 
60 A I Wonderful Ghost Story. 
 
 she prepared to leave. This time, in- 
 stead of the usual " Good morning," 
 she wished me an impressively pro- 
 nounced " Good-bye," firmly holding 
 rather than shaking my hand while 
 she said it. I accompanied her to the 
 door, outside of which she seemed rather 
 to fade into the darkness than to pass 
 through it. But I referred this impres- 
 sion to my own fancy. 
 
 I immediately inquired of the servant 
 why she had not announced the visitor 
 to me. She stated that she was not 
 aware there had been one, and that any 
 one who had entered must have done so 
 when she had left the street door open 
 
A Wonderful Ghost Story. 61 
 
 about half an hour previously, while she 
 went across the road for a moment. 
 
 Soon after this occurred I had to fulfil 
 an engagement at a house near Bosworth 
 Field, in Leicestershire. I left town on 
 a Friday, having sent some pictures, 
 that were too large to take with me, by 
 the luggage train a week previously, in 
 order that they might be at the house on 
 my arrival, and occasion me no loss of 
 time in waiting for them. On getting 
 to the house, however, I found that they 
 had not been heard of, and on inquiring 
 at the station, it was stated that a case 
 similar to the one I described had passed 
 through and gone on to Leicester, where 
 E 
 
62 A Wonderful Ghost Story. 
 
 it probably still was. It being Friday, 
 and past the hour for the post, there was 
 no possibility of getting a letter to 
 Leicester before Monday morning, as 
 the luggage office would be closed there 
 on Sunday ; consequently I could in no 
 case expect the arrival of the pictures 
 before the succeeding Tuesday or Wed- 
 nesday. The loss of three days would 
 be a serious one ; therefore, to avoid it, 
 I suggested to my host that I should 
 leave immediately to transact some busi- 
 ness in South Staffordshire, as I should 
 be obliged to attend to it before my 
 return to town, and if I could see about 
 it in the vacant interval thus thrown 
 
A Wonderful Ghost Story. 63 
 
 upon my hands, it would be saving me 
 the same amount of time after my visit 
 to his house was concluded. This ar- 
 rangement meeting with his ready assent, 
 I hastened to the Atherstone station on 
 the Trent Valley Railway. By refer- 
 ence to Bradshaw, I find that my route 
 
 lay through L , where I was to 
 
 change carriages, to S , in Stafford- 
 shire. I was just in time for the train 
 
 that would put me down at L at 
 
 eight in the evening, and a train was 
 
 announced to start from L for 
 
 S at ten minutes after eight, an- 
 swering, as I concluded, to the train in 
 which I was about to travel. I there- 
 
64 A Wonderful Ghost Story. 
 
 fore saw no reason to doubt but that I 
 should get to my journey's end the same 
 night ; but on my arriving at L — r- I 
 found my plans entirely frustrated. The 
 train arrived punctually, and I got out 
 intending to wait on the platform for the 
 arrival of the carriages for the other 
 line. I found, however, that though the 
 
 two lines crossed at L , they did 
 
 not communicate with each other, the 
 
 L station on the Trent Valley line 
 
 being on one side of the town, and the 
 L station on the South Stafford- 
 shire line on the other. I also found 
 that there was not time to get to the 
 other station so as to catch the train the 
 
A Wonderful Ghost Story. 65 
 
 same evening ; indeed, the train had 
 just that moment passed on a lower 
 level beneath my feet, and to get to 
 the other side of the town, where it 
 would stop for two minutes only, was 
 out of the question. There was, there- 
 fore, nothing for it but to put up at the 
 Swan Hotel for the night. I have an 
 especial dislike to passing an evening 
 at an hotel in a country town. Dinner 
 at such places I never take, as I had 
 rather go without than have such as I 
 am likely to get. Books are never to 
 to be had, the country newspapers do 
 not interest me. The Times I have 
 spelt through on my journey. The 
 
66 A Wonderful Ghost Story. 
 
 society I am likely to meet have few 
 ideas in common with myself. Under 
 such circumstances, I usually resort to 
 a meat tea to while away the time, and 
 when that is over, occupy myself in 
 writing letters. 
 
 This was the first time I had been in 
 
 L , and while waiting for the tea, it 
 
 occurred to me how, on two occasions 
 within the past six months, I had been 
 on the point of coming to that very place, 
 at one time to execute a small commis- 
 sion for an old acquaintance, resident 
 there, and another to get the materials 
 for a picture I proposed painting of an 
 incident in the early life of Dr Johnson. 
 
A Wonderful Ghost Story. 67 
 
 I should have come on each of these 
 occasions had not other arrangements 
 diverted my purpose and caused me to 
 postpone the journey indefinitely. The 
 thought, however, would occur to me, 
 
 " How strange ! Here I am at L 
 
 by no intention of my own, though I 
 have twice tried to get here and been 
 balked." When I had done tea, I thought 
 I might as well write to an acquaintance 
 I had known some years previously, and 
 who lived in the Cathedral-close, asking 
 him to come and pass an hour or two 
 with me. Accordingly I rang for the 
 waitress and asked : 
 
 « Does Mr Lute live in L ? " 
 
68 A Wonderful Ghost Story. 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " Cathedral-close ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " Can I send a note to him ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 I wrote the note, saying where I was, 
 and asking if he would come for an hour 
 or two and talk over old matters. The 
 note was taken ; in about twenty minutes 
 a person of gentlemanly appearance, and 
 what might be termed the advanced 
 middle age, entered the room with my 
 note in his hand, saying that I had sent 
 him a letter, he presumed, by mistake, 
 as he did not know my name. Seeing, 
 instantly, that he was not the person I 
 
A Wonderful Ghost Story. 69 
 
 intended to write to, I apologised, and 
 asked whether there was not another Mr 
 
 Lute living in L ■ ? 
 
 " No, there was none other." 
 11 Certainly," I rejoined, " my friend 
 must have given me his right address, 
 for I had written to him on other occa- 
 sions here. He was a fair young man, 
 he succeeded to an estate in conse- 
 quence of his uncle having been 
 killed while hunting with the Ouorn 
 hounds, and he married, about two 
 years since, a lady of the name of 
 Fairbairn." 
 
 The stranger very composedly re- 
 plied, " You are speaking of Mr Clyne ; 
 
jo A Wonderful Ghost Story. 
 
 he did live in the Cathedral-close, but 
 he has now gone away." 
 
 The stranger was right, and in my 
 surprise I exclaimed : 
 
 " Oh dear, to be sure, that is the 
 name ; what could have made me address 
 you instead ? I really beg your pardon ; 
 my writing to you, and unconsciously 
 guessing your name, is one of the most 
 extraordinary and unaccountable things 
 I ever did. Pray pardon me." 
 
 He continued very quietly, 
 
 " There is no need of apology ; it 
 happens that you are the very person I 
 most wished to see. You are a painter, 
 and I want you to paint a portrait of my 
 
A Wonderftcl Ghost Story. 7 1 
 
 daughter ; can you come to my house 
 immediately for the purpose ? " 
 
 I was rather surprised at finding my- 
 self known by him, and the turn matters 
 had taken being so entirely unexpected, 
 I did not at the moment feel inclined 
 to undertake the business ; I therefore 
 explained how I was situate, stating that 
 I had only the next day and Monday at 
 my disposal. He, however, pressed me 
 so earnestly, that I arranged to do what 
 I could for him in those two days ; and 
 having put up my baggage and arranged 
 other matters, I accompanied him to 
 his house. During the walk home, he 
 scarcely spoke a word, but his taciturnity 
 
J 2 A Wonderful Ghost Story. 
 
 seemed only a continuance of his quiet 
 composure at the inn. On our arrival 
 he introduced me to his daughter Maria, 
 and then left the room. Maria Lute 
 was a fair and a decidedly handsome 
 girl of about fifteen ; her manner was, 
 however, in advance of her years, and 
 evinced that self-possession, and, in the 
 favourable sense of the term, that 
 womanliness, that is only seen at such 
 an early age in girls that have been left 
 motherless, or from other causes thrown 
 much on their own resources. 
 
 She had evidently not been informed 
 of the purpose of my coming, and only 
 knew that I was to stay there for the 
 
A Wonderful Ghost Story. 73 
 
 night ; she therefore excused herself for 
 a few moments, that she might give the 
 requisite directions to the servants as to 
 preparing my room. When she returned, 
 she told me that I should not see her 
 father again that evening, the state of 
 his health having obliged him to retire 
 for the night ; but she hoped I should 
 be able to see him some time on the 
 morrow. In the meantime, she hoped I 
 would make myself quite at home, and 
 call for anything I wanted. She herself 
 was sitting in the drawing-room, but 
 perhaps I should like to smoke and 
 take something ; if so, there was a fire 
 in the house-keepers room, and she 
 
74 A Wonderful Ghost Story. 
 
 would come and sit with me, as she 
 expected the medical attendant every 
 minute, and he would probably stay 
 to smoke and take something. As the 
 little lady seemed to recommend this 
 course, I readily complied. I did not 
 smoke or take anything, but sat down 
 by the fire, when she immediately joined 
 me. She conversed well and readily, 
 and with a command of language 
 singular in a person so young. With- 
 out being disagreeably inquisitive, or 
 putting any question to me, she seemed 
 desirous of learning the business that 
 had brought me to the house. I told 
 her that her father wished me to paint 
 
A Wonderful Ghost Story. 75 
 
 either her portrait or that of a sister of 
 hers, if she had one. 
 
 She remained silent and thoughtful 
 for a moment, and then seemed to com- 
 prehend it at once. She told me that a 
 sister of hers, an only one, to whom her 
 father was devotedly attached, died near 
 four months previously ; that her father 
 had never yet recovered from the shock 
 of her death. He had often expressed 
 the most earnest wish for a portrait of 
 her, indeed, it was his one thought ; and 
 she hoped, if something of the kind 
 could be done, it would improve his 
 health. Here she hesitated, stammered, 
 and burst into tears. After a while she 
 
J 6 A Wonderful Ghost Story. 
 
 continued : " It is no use hiding from 
 you what you must very soon be aware 
 of. Papa is insane — he has been so 
 ever since dear Caroline was buried. 
 He says he is always seeing dear Caro- 
 line, and he is subject to fearful delu- 
 sions. The doctor says he cannot tell 
 how much worse he may be, and that 
 everything dangerous, like knives or 
 razors, is to be kept out of his reach. 
 It was necessary you should not see 
 him again this evening, as he was unable 
 to converse properly, and I fear the 
 same may be the case to-morrow ; but 
 perhaps you can stay over Sunday, and 
 I may be able to assist you in doing 
 
A Wonderful Ghost Story. 77 
 
 what he wishes." I asked whether they 
 nad any materials for making a likeness 
 ■a photograph, a sketch, or anything 
 else for me to go from. " No, they had 
 nothing." " Could she describe her 
 clearly?" She thought she could; and 
 there was a print that was very much 
 like her, but she had mislaid it. I 
 mentioned, that with such disadvantages, 
 and in such an absence of materials, I 
 did not anticipate a satisfactory result. 
 I had painted portraits under such 
 circumstances, but their success much 
 depended upon the powers of descrip- 
 tion of the persons who were to assist 
 me by their recollection ; in some in- 
 
 F 
 
78 A Wonderful Ghost Story. 
 
 stances I had attained a certain amount 
 of success, but in most the result was 
 quite a failure. The medical attendant 
 came, but I did not see him. I learnt, 
 however, that he ordered a strict watch 
 to be kept on his patient till he came 
 again the next morning. Seeing the 
 state of things, and how much the little 
 lady had to attend to, I retired early 
 to bed. The next morning I heard 
 that her father was decidedly better; 
 he had inquired earnestly, on waking, 
 whether I was really in the house, and 
 at breakfast-time he sent down to say 
 that he hoped nothing would prevent 
 my making an attempt at the portrait 
 
A Wonderful Ghost Story. 79 
 
 immediately, and he expected to be 
 able to see me in the course of the 
 day. 
 
 Directly after breakfast I set to work, 
 aided by such description as the sister 
 could give me. I tried again and again, 
 but without success, or, indeed, the least 
 prospect of it. The features, I was told, 
 were separately like, but the expression 
 was not. I toiled on the greater part of 
 the day with no better result. The dif- 
 ferent studies I made were taken up to 
 the invalid, but the same answer was 
 always returned — no resemblance. I 
 had exerted myself to the utmost, and, 
 in fact, was not a little fatigued by so 
 
80 A Wonderful Ghost Story. 
 
 doing — a circumstance that the little lady 
 evidently noticed, as she expressed her- 
 self most grateful for the interest she 
 could see I took in the matter, and re- 
 ferred the unsuccessful result entirely to 
 her want of powers of description. She 
 also said it was so provoking ! she had a 
 print — a portrait of a lady, that was so 
 like, but it had gone — she had missed it 
 from her book for three weeks past. It 
 was the more disappointing, as she was 
 sure it would have been of such great 
 assistance, I asked if she could tell me 
 who the print was of, as, if I knew, I 
 could easily procure one in London. 
 She answered, Lady M. A. Imme- 
 
A Wonderful Ghost Story. 8 1 
 
 diately the name was uttered the whole 
 scene of the lady of the railway car- 
 riage presented itself to me. I had my 
 sketch-book in my portmanteau upstairs, 
 and, by a fortunate chance, fixed in it 
 was the print in question, with the two 
 pencil sketches. I instantly brought 
 them down, and showed them to Maria 
 Lute. She looked at them for a mo- 
 ment, turned her eyes full upon me, and 
 said slowly, and with something like 
 fear in her manner, " Where did you get 
 these ? " Then quicker, and without 
 waiting for my answer, " Let me take 
 them instantly to papa." She was away 
 ten minutes, or more ; when she returned, 
 
82 A Wonderful Ghost Story. 
 
 her father came with her. He did not 
 wait for salutations, but said, in a tone 
 and manner I had not observed in him 
 before, " I was right all the time ; it was 
 you that I saw with her, and these 
 
 sketches are from her, and from no one 
 
 i 
 else. I value them more than all my 
 
 l 
 possessions, except this dear child. " 
 
 The daughter also assured me that the 
 
 print I had brought to the house must 
 
 be the one taken from the book about 
 
 three weeks before, in proof of which 
 
 she pointed out to me the gum marks at 
 
 the back, which exactly corresponded 
 
 with those left on the blank leaf. 
 
 From the moment the father saw 
 
A Wonderful Ghost Story. 83 
 
 these sketches, his mental health re- 
 turned. 
 
 I was not allowed to touch either of 
 the pencil drawings in the sketch-book, 
 as it was feared I might injure them ; 
 but an oil picture from them was com- 
 menced immediately, the* father sitting 
 by me hour after hour, directing my 
 touches, conversing rationally, and in- 
 deed cheerfully, while he did so. He 
 avoided direct reference to his delusions, 
 but from time to time led the conversa- 
 tion to the manner in which I had 
 originally obtained the sketches. The 
 doctor came in the evening, and, after 
 extolling the particular treatment he 
 
84 A Wonderful Ghost Story. 
 
 had adopted, pronounced his patient 
 decidedly, and he believed permanently, 
 improved. 
 
 The next day being Sunday, we all 
 went to church. The father, for the first 
 time since his bereavement. During a 
 walk which he took with me after lun- 
 cheon, he again approached the subject 
 of the sketches, and after some seeming 
 hesitation as to whether he should con- 
 fide in me or not, said, " Your writing to 
 
 me by name, from the inn at L , was 
 
 one of those inexplicable circumstances 
 that I suppose it is impossible to clear 
 up. I knew you, however, directly I 
 saw you ; when those about me con- 
 
A Wonderful Ghost Story. 85 
 
 sidered that my intellect was disordered, 
 and that I spoke incoherently, it was 
 only because I saw things that they did 
 not. Since her death, I know, with a 
 certainty that nothing will ever disturb, 
 that at different times I have been in 
 the actual and visible presence of my 
 dear daughter that is gone — oftener, in- 
 deed, just after her death than latterly. 
 Of the many times that this has oc- 
 curred, I distinctly remember once see- 
 ing her in a railway carriage, speaking 
 to a person seated opposite ; who that 
 person was I could not ascertain, as my 
 position seemed to be immediately be- 
 hind him. I next saw her at a dinner- 
 
86 A Wonderful Ghost Story. 
 
 table, with others, and amongst those 
 others, unquestionably, I saw yourself. 
 I afterwards learnt that at that time I 
 was considered to be in one of my 
 longest and most violent paroxysms, as 
 I continued to see her speaking to you, 
 in the midst of a large assembly, for 
 some hours. Again I saw her, stand- 
 ing by your side, while you were en- 
 gaged in either writing or drawing. I 
 saw her once again afterwards, but the 
 next time I saw yourself was in the inn 
 parlour/' 
 
 The picture was proceeded with 
 the next day, and on the day after 
 the face was completed, and I after- 
 
A Wonderful Ghost Story. 87 
 
 wards brought it with me to London 
 to finish. 
 
 I have often seen Mr L. since 
 that period ; his health is perfectly re- 
 established, and his manner and con- 
 versation are as cheerful as can be 
 expected within a few years of so great 
 a bereavement. 
 
 The portrait now hangs in his bed- 
 room, with the print and the two 
 sketches by the side, and written be- 
 neath is : " C. L., 13th September 1858, 
 aged 22." 
 
RHYMES IN COUNCIL: 
 
 APHORISMS VERSIFIED-185. 
 
 By S. C. HALL, F.S.A. 
 
 Dedicated by permission to the Grandchildren of the Queen. 
 
 4to, printed in black with red borders. 
 Cloth elegant, 2s. 6d. 
 
 1 ' The work is attractively got up, and will doubtless be 
 popular as a gift book." — City Press. 
 
 "The admirable intention of the author has been in- 
 dustriously carried out, and his ' Rhymes in Council ' con- 
 stitute a wise and good book. " — Daily Chronicle. 
 
 u The whole work is one which, whilst eminently creditable 
 to Mr Hall, will, we feel sure, secure a large and gratifying 
 circulation." — Nottingham Daily Guardian. 
 
 " Elegant in appearance and excellent in type, the volume 
 deserves a high place among books for presentation." — 
 Record. 
 
 "It is a worthy work, accomplished with grace and feel- 
 ing." — News of the World. 
 
 " The book is one which nobody can study without some 
 profit. " — Scotsman. 
 
 GRIFFITH & FARRAN, 
 West Corner of St Paul's Churchyard, London. 
 
THE BOYS' OWN FAVOURITE LIBRARY. 
 
 Fourteen Volumes, price 3s. 6d. each. 
 
 They are well printed, in crown 8vo size, on good par. 
 and strongly and attractively bound in cloth elega 
 Each Volume contains from 350 to 500 pages of sc 
 reading, and are all Illustrated by the Best Artists. 
 
 The following are the Titles of the Volumes that have alrec 
 been published: — 
 
 Mark Seaworth. By W. H. G. Kingston. 
 Hurricane Hurry. By W. H. G. Kingston. 
 Salt Water. By W. H. G. Kingston. 
 Out on the Pampas. By G. A. Henty. 
 Peter the Whaler. By W. H. G. Kingston. 
 Early Start in Life. By E. Marryat Norris. 
 Fred Markham in Russia. By W. H. G. Kingston. 
 College Days at Oxford. By Rev. H. C. Adams. 
 The Young Franc-Tireurs. By G. A. Henty. 
 The Three Midshipmen. By W. H. G. Kingston. 
 Our Soldiers. By W. H. G. Kingston. 
 The Three Commanders. By W. H. G. Kingston. 
 The Three Lieutenants. By W. H. G. Kingston. 
 Our Sailors. By W. H. G. Kingston. 
 
 Others are in preparation. 
 
 GRIFFITH & FARRAN, 
 West Corner of St Paul's Churchyard, London 
 
 1? 
 
 •i 
 
THE GIRLS' OWN FAYODRITE LIBRARY. 
 
 Eleven Volumes, price 3s. 6d. each. 
 
 They are well printed, in crown 8vo size, on good paper, 
 and strongly and attractively bound in cloth elegant. 
 Each Volume contains from 350 to 500 pages of solid 
 reading, and are all illustrated by the Best Artists. 
 
 The folloiving are the Titles of the Volumes already published 
 in this Series : — 
 
 Michaelmas Daisy. By Sarah Doudney. 
 
 The New Girl. By Mrs Gellie. 
 
 The Oak Staircase. By M. & C. Lee. 
 
 For a Dream's Sake. By Mrs A. H. Martin. 
 
 My Mother's Diamonds. By Maria J. Greer. 
 
 My Sister's Keeper. By. Laura M. Lane. 
 
 " Bonnie Lesley." By Mrs Herbert Martin. 
 
 Left Alone. By Francis Carr, Author of " Tried by 
 
 Fire," etc. 
 Stephen the Schoolmaster. By Mrs Gellie. (M.E.B.) 
 7ery GenteeL By the Author of "Mrs Jerningham's 
 
 Journal." 
 Jladys the Reaper. By Anne Be ale. 
 
 GRIFFITH & FARRAN, 
 /est Corner of St Paul's Churchyard, London. 
 
A-5H3T