e a musical entertainment shortly after Charles Dickens's return from
his first visit to America. He had a great interest in, and liking for,
these young people.

[25] Cousin and adopted child of Mr. and Mrs. Austin.

[26] A model of a Swiss chalet, and a present from M. Charles Fechter,
used by Charles Dickens as a summer writing-room.

[27] This letter has been already published by Mr. Forster in his
"Life."

1869.

NARRATIVE.

The "Farewell Readings" in town and country were resumed immediately
after the beginning of this year, and were to have been continued until
the end of May. The work was even harder than it had ever been. Charles
Dickens began his country tour in Ireland early in January, and read
continuously in all parts of England and Scotland until the end of
April. A public dinner (in commemoration of his last readings in the
town) was given to him at Liverpool on the 10th April. Besides all this
severe country work, he was giving a series of readings at St. James's
Hall, and reading the "Murder" from "Oliver Twist," in London and in the
country, frequently four times a week. In the second week of February, a
sudden and unusually violent attack of the old trouble in his foot made
it imperatively necessary to postpone a reading at St. James's Hall, and
to delay for a day or two his departure for Scotland. The foot continued
to cause him pain and inconvenience, but, as will be seen from his
letters, he generally spoke of himself as otherwise well, until he
arrived at Preston, where he was to read on the 22nd of April. The day
before this appointed reading, he writes home of some grave symptoms
which he had observed in himself, and had reported to his doctor, Mr. F.
Carr Beard. That gentleman, taking alarm at what he considered
"indisputable evidences of overwork," wisely resolved not to content
himself with written consultations, but went down to Preston on the day
appointed for the reading there, and, after seeing his patient,
peremptorily stopped it, carried him off to Liverpool, and the next day
to London. There he consulted Sir Thomas Watson, who entirely
corroborated Mr. Beard's opinion. And the two doctors agreed that the
course of readings must be stopped for this year, and that reading,
_combined with travelling_, must be stopped _for ever_. Charles Dickens
had no alternative but to acquiesce in this verdict; but he felt it
keenly, not only for himself, but for the sake of the Messrs.