ss with unerring accuracy. She
never stumbled or fell at Chichester any more than she had done at
Oxford. Indeed, Oxford was useful throughout life, as no difficulties
could be greater than those she had learnt to surmount in her childhood.

Scarce a stone's throw from the palace is the cathedral, where the seat
of the Bishop's blind daughter is still pointed out. Bessie had a
personal pleasure, a pride and delight in the beauty of the cathedral,
spoke of it, as she did of any venerated object, with lowered tones;
knew its history and form, the plan of the building, the salient
architectural features, and all the best points of view.

The Rev. Carey H. Borrer, Rector of Hurst Pierpoint, and Treasurer of
Chichester Cathedral, writes as follows of the impression produced at
this time:

My first introduction to Bessie Gilbert was when the Bishop had
just taken possession of the palace at Chichester. I had been
staying at Lavington with Archdeacon Manning (now the Cardinal),
and we went together to sleep at the deanery (Dean Chandler's), and
we all went to dine at the palace. Bessie was then very young, very
slight and fragile looking, dressed as usual in white muslin, and
with her dark spectacles immediately attracted my attention. In the
evening she went to the piano, and sang very sweetly and with much
pathos several familiar Scotch songs. I asked her if she knew
certain others, mostly Jacobite songs, with which I was familiar
from hearing my very dear friend William Harris (fellow of All
Souls', a devoted lover of Prince Charlie) sing them. She at once
warmed up and sang some of them. Others she did not know, and was
glad to hear something about them. Under that gentle aspect there
came out a heart full of fire and earnestness, which showed itself
in her interest for suffering and heroism, and afterwards found
field for its energy in her untiring efforts for the blind.

Whenever we met there was always a warm shaking of the hand, and a
feeling of sympathy of tastes between us.

I had not seen much of persons suffering from blindness, and I was
struck by her simple way of saying "I have not _seen_ him," or "I
should like to _see_ it"--something like Zacharias "_asking_" for a
writing-table.

No one could be with Bessie Gilbert without feeling chastened by
the presence of a true, pure, warm-