nother bulletin announced Mr. Dickens's intention
to attend the dinner at all hazards. At a little after six, having been
assisted up the stairs, he was joined by Mr. Greeley, and the hosts
forming in two lines silently permitted the distinguished gentlemen to
pass through. Mr. Dickens limped perceptibly; his right foot was
swathed, and he leaned heavily on the arm of Mr. Greeley. He evidently
suffered great pain."

CHAPTER XVII.

LAST READINGS.

1868-1870.

At Home--Project for Last Readings--What the
Readings did and undid--Profit from all the
Readings--Noticeable Changes--Proposed Reading
from _Oliver Twist_--Parting from his Youngest
Son--Death of his Brother Frederick--Old
Friends--_Sikes and Nancy_ Reading--Reading
stopped--Mr. Syme's Opinion of the
Lameness--Emerson Tennent's Funeral--Public
Dinner in Liverpool--His Description of his
Illness--Brought to Town--Sir Thomas Watson's
Note of the Case--Close of Career as Public
Reader.

FAVOURABLE weather helped him pleasantly home. He had profited greatly
by the sea voyage, perhaps greatly more by its repose; and on the 25th
of May he described himself to his Boston friends as brown beyond
belief, and causing the greatest disappointment in all quarters by
looking so well. "My doctor was quite broken down in spirits on seeing
me for the first time last Saturday. _Good Lord! seven years younger!_
said the doctor, recoiling." That he gave all the credit to "those fine
days at sea," and none to the rest from such labours as he had passed
through, the close of the letter too sadly showed. "We are already
settling--think of this!--the details of my farewell course of
readings."

Even on his way out to America that enterprise was in hand. From Halifax
he had written to me. "I told the Chappells that when I got back to
England, I would have a series of farewell readings in town and country;
and then read No More. They at once offer in writing to pay all expenses
whatever, to pay the ten per cent. for management, and to pay me, for a
series of 75, six thousand pounds." The terms were raised and settled
before the first Boston readings closed. The number was to be a hundred;
and the payment, over and above expenses and per centage, eight thousand
pounds. Such a temptation undoubtedly was great; and though it was a
fatal mistake which Dickens committed in yielding