Chappell,
who showed the most disinterested kindness and solicitude on the
occasion. He at once returned home to Gad's Hill, and the rest and quiet
of the country restored him, for the time, to almost his usual condition
of health and spirits. But it was observed, by all who loved him, that
from this time forth he never regained his old vigour and elasticity.
The attack at Preston was the "beginning of the end!"

During the spring and summer of this year, he received visits from many
dearly valued American friends. In May, he stayed with his daughter and
sister-in-law for two or three weeks at the St. James's Hotel,
Piccadilly, having promised to be in London at the time of the arrival
of Mr. and Mrs. Fields, of Boston, who visited Europe, accompanied by
Miss Mabel Lowell (the daughter of the famous American poet) this year.
Besides these friends, Mr. and Mrs. Childs, of Philadelphia--from whom
he had received the greatest kindness and hospitality, and for whom he
had a hearty regard--Dr. Fordyce Barker and his son, Mr. Eytinge (an
illustrator of an American edition of Charles Dickens's works), and Mr.
Bayard Taylor paid visits to Gad's Hill, which were thoroughly enjoyed
by Charles Dickens and his family. This last summer was a very happy
one. He had the annual summer visitors and parties of his friends in the
neighbourhood. He was, as usual, projecting improvements in his beloved
country home; one, which he called the "crowning improvement of all,"
was a large conservatory, which was to be added during the absence of
the family in London in the following spring.

The state of Mr. Wills's health made it necessary for him now to retire
altogether from the editorship of "All the Year Round." Charles
Dickens's own letters express the regret which he felt at the
dissolution of this long and always pleasant association. Mr. Wills's
place at the office was filled by Charles Dickens's eldest son, now sole
editor and proprietor of the journal.

In September Charles Dickens went to Birmingham, accompanied by his son
Harry, and presided at the opening of the session of (what he calls in
his letter to Mr. Arthur Ryland, "_our_ Institution") the Midland
Institute. He made a speech on education to the young students, and
promised to go back early in the following year and distribute the
prizes. In one of the letters which we give to Mr. Ryland, he speaks of
himself as "being in full force again," and "going to finish his
farewel