me: and I would much
prefer "Rev. C.L. Dodgson, Ch. Ch., Oxford." When a letter
comes addressed "Lewis Carroll, Ch. Ch.," it either goes to
the Dead Letter Office, or it impresses on the minds of all
letter-carriers, &c., through whose hands it goes, the very
fact I least want them to know.

Please offer to your sister all the necessary apologies for
the liberty I have taken with her name. My only excuse is,
that I know no other; and how _am_ I to guess what the
full name is? It _may_ be Carlotta, or Zealot, or
Ballot, or Lotus-blossom (a very pretty name), or even
Charlotte. Never have I sent anything to a young lady of
whom I have a more shadowy idea. Name, an enigma; age,
somewhere between 1 and 19 (you've no idea how bewildering
it is, alternately picturing her as a little toddling thing
of 5, and a tall girl of 15!); disposition--well, I
_have_ a fragment of information on _that_
question--your mother says, as to my coming, "It must be
when Lottie is at home, or she would never forgive us."
Still, I _cannot_ consider the mere fact that she is of
an unforgiving disposition as a complete view of her
character. I feel sure she has some other qualities besides.

Believe me,

Yrs affectionately,

C.L. Dodgson.

My dear child,--It seems quite within the bounds of
possibility, if we go on long in this style, that our
correspondence may at last assume a really friendly tone. I
don't of course say it will actually do so--that would be
too bold a prophecy, but only that it may tend to shape
itself in that direction.

Your remark, that slippers for elephants _could_ be
made, only they would not be slippers, but boots, convinces
me that there is a branch of your family in _Ireland_.
Who are (oh dear, oh dear, I am going distracted! There's a
lady in the opposite house who simply sings _all_ day.
All her songs are wails, and their tunes, such as they have,
are much the same. She has one strong note in her voice, and
she knows it! I _think_ it's "A natural," but I haven't
much ear. And when she gets to that note, she howls!) they?
The O'Rixes, I suppose?

About your uninteresting neighbours, I sympathise with you
much; but oh, I wish I had you here, that I might teach you
_not_ to say "It is difficult to visit one's district
regularly, like