e up of. It is so little,
that one is not 'bothered' in the least; and their interest in the
inimitable seems to strengthen daily. I read them the first number last
night 'was a' week, with unrelateable success; and old Mrs. Marcet, who
is devilish 'cute, guessed directly (but I didn't tell her she was
right) that little Paul would die. They were all so apprehensive that it
was a great pleasure to read it; and I shall leave here, if all goes
well, in a brilliant shower of sparks struck out of them by the promised
reading of the Christmas book." Little did either of us then imagine to
what these readings were to lead, but even thus early they were taking
in his mind the shape of a sort of jest that the smallest opportunity of
favour might have turned into earnest. In his very next letter he wrote
to me: "I was thinking the other day that in these days of lecturings
and readings, a great deal of money might possibly be made (if it were
not infra dig) by one's having Readings of one's own books. It would be
an _odd_ thing. I think it would take immensely. What do you say? Will
you step to Dean-street, and see how Miss Kelly's engagement-book (it
must be an immense volume!) stands? Or shall I take the St. James's?" My
answer is to be inferred from his rejoinder: but even at this time,
while heightening and carrying forward his jest, I suspected him of
graver desires than he cared to avow; and the time was to come, after a
dozen years, when with earnestness equal to his own I continued to
oppose, for reasons to be stated in their place, that which he had set
his heart upon too strongly to abandon, and which I still can only wish
he had preferred to surrender with all that seemed to be its enormous
gains! "I don't think you have exercised your usual judgment in taking
Covent-garden for me. I doubt it is too large for my purpose. However, I
shall stand by whatever you propose to the proprietors."

Soon came the changes of trouble and vexation I had too surely seen.
"You remember," he wrote, "your objection about the two stories. I made
over light of it. I ought to have considered that I have never before
really tried the opening of two together--having always had one pretty
far ahead when I have been driving a pair of them. I know it all now.
The apparent impossibility of getting each into its place, coupled with
that craving for streets, so thoroughly put me off the track, that, up
to Wednesday or Thursday last, I really conte