to the use of which she was unaccustomed) broke and ran
down quickly, smashing the crockery and bruising her arm. Mr. Dickens
jumped up quickly and said, "Never mind the breakage; is your arm
hurt?" As it was painful, he immediately applied arnica to the bruise,
and gave her a glass of port wine, "treating me," Mrs. Wright remarked,
"more like a child of his own than a servant."

When she was married, and left Gad's Hill, she brought her first child
to show her former master. He took notice of it, and asked her what he
could buy as a present. She thanked him, and said she did not want
anything. On leaving he gently put a sovereign into the baby's little
hand, and said, "Buy something with that."

Mrs. Wright spoke of the great interest which Dickens took in the
children's treats at Higham, lending his meadow for them, providing
sweets and cakes for the little ones, and apples to be scrambled for. He
took great delight in seeing the scrambles.

She also referred to the cricket club, and said that when the matches
were going on it was a regular holiday at Higham. Dickens used to take
the scores, and at the end of the game he gave prizes and made little
speeches. Her husband, Mr. Henry Wright, acted as secretary to the club,
and is the possessor of a letter written by Mr. Dickens, in reply to an
address which had been presented to him, of which letter the following
is a copy:--

"GAD'S HILL PLACE,
"HIGHAM BY ROCHESTER, KENT.
"_Tuesday, 29th July, 1862._

"DEAR SIR,

"As your name is the first on the list of
signatures to the little address I have had the
pleasure of receiving--on my return from a short
absence--from the greater part of the players in
the match the other day, I address my reply to
you.

"I beg you to assure the rest that it will always
give me great pleasure to lend my meadow for any
such good purpose, and that I feel a sincere
desire to be a good friend to the working men in
this neighbourhood. I am always interested in
their welfare, and am always heartily glad to see
them enjoying rational and healthful recreation.

"It did not escape my notice that some expressions
were used the other day which would have been
better avoided,