food to the lips
of those images, before tasting it themselves. This is in a part of
Africa where the mortality among children (judging from the number of
these little memorials) is very great."

* * * * *

Two more entries are the last which he made. "AVAILABLE NAMES"
introduces a wonderful list in the exact following classes and order; as
to which the reader may be left to his own memory for selection of such
as found their way into the several stories from _Little Dorrit_ to the
end. The rest, not lifted into that higher notice by such favour of
their creator, must remain like any other undistinguished crowd. But
among them may perhaps be detected, by those who have special insight
for the physiognomy of a name, some few with so great promise in them of
fun and character as will make the "mute inglorious" fate which has
befallen them a subject for special regret; and much ingenious
speculation will probably wait upon all. Dickens has generally been
thought, by the curious, to display not a few of his most characteristic
traits in this particular field of invention.

First there are titles for books; and from the list subjoined were taken
two for Christmas numbers and two for stories, though _Nobody's Fault_
had ultimately to give way to _Little Dorrit_.

"THE LUMBER ROOM.
SOMEBODY'S LUGGAGE.
TO BE LEFT TILL CALLED FOR.
SOMETHING WANTED.
EXTREMES MEET.
NOBODY'S FAULT.
THE GRINDSTONE.
ROKESMITH'S FORGE.
OUR MUTUAL FRIEND.
THE CINDER HEAP.
TWO GENERATIONS.
BROKEN CROCKERY.
DUST.
THE HOME DEPARTMENT.
THE YOUNG PERSON.
NOW OR NEVER.
MY NEIGHBOURS.
THE CHILDREN OF THE FATHERS.
NO THOROUGHFARE."

Then comes a batch of "Christian names": Girls and Boys: which stand
thus, with mention of the source from which he obtained them. These
therefore can hardly be called pure invention. Some would have been
reckoned too extravagant for anything but reality.

"_Girls from Privy Council Education lists._

"LELIA.
MENELLA.
RUBINA.
IRIS.
REBECCA.
ETTY.
REBINAH.
SEBA.
PERSIA.
ARAMANDA.
DORIS.
BALZINA.
PLEASANT.
GENTILLA.

"_Boys from Privy Council Education lists._

"DOCTOR.