to save him from worries.--Believe me
to be, your affectionate friend,
W. F. HOOK.

Bessie's own work at this time was mainly the preparation for the annual
meeting in May, together with appeals for custom to the secretaries of
public institutions.

The Lady Superintendent of the Hospital for Sick Children in Great
Ormond Street replies that brushes for the Hospital are always purchased
at the depot in Euston Road.

The Secretary of the Islington Shoe Black Brigade tells her that so far
as he can, consistently with the interests of his Society, and as
regards the price charged for various articles, he has always given the
Society for the Blind as much custom as possible. These are types of
innumerable answers; and she went on with this drudgery year after year;
every ignoble detail of it glorified by the constant presence of the aim
for which she worked. The sufferings of the blind poor were always borne
in her heart; the hope of alleviating them was the mainspring of all her
actions. Letters, accounts, appeals, petitions, these are all the
machinery with which she works. She has learnt the proportion of result
to be expected, and is seldom disappointed or disheartened by
indifference or coldness. But encouragement and approval from those whom
she honours is very helpful to her.

At the meeting held on 14th May 1868 Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Fawcett, and
Professor Owen were amongst the principal speakers. Mr. Gladstone wrote
as follows on the 8th:

11 CARLTON HOUSE TERRACE, S.W., _8th May 1868_.

MY DEAR MADAM--If Mr. Levy will kindly call on me at half-past one
on the 14th, I will take the instructions and information from him
with reference to the meeting. I cannot be quite sure of escape
from my duties in the House (which meets on Wednesdays at twelve)
but unless necessity keeps me away you may depend upon me.--I
remain, very faithfully yours,
W. E. GLADSTONE.

Miss Gilbert.

Mr. Gladstone's speech at that meeting is best described by its effect
upon Bessie herself. She writes as follows:

PALACE, CHICHESTER, _20th June 1868_.

MY DEAR KATE--I have long been wishing to write to you, and,
indeed, before the meeting a dictated letter was just begun to you,
but there was no time to write it. After the meeting I was only to