ur, because he foresees "a wiry evening" in store for him. Under which
complication of distractions, to which a waitress with a tray at this
moment adds herself, I sink, and leave off.

My best love to the dear girls, and to the noble Plorn, and to you.
Marguerite and Ellen Stone not forgotten. All yesterday and to-day I
have been doing everything to the tune of:

And the day is dark and dreary.

Ever, dearest Georgy,
Your most affectionate and faithful.

P.S.--I hope the brazier is intolerably hot, and half stifles all the
family. Then, and not otherwise, I shall think it in satisfactory work.

[Sidenote: Rev. James White.]

TAVISTOCK HOUSE, TAVISTOCK SQUARE, LONDON, W. C.,
_Friday, Nov. 5th, 1858._

MY DEAR WHITE,

May I entreat you to thank Mr. Carter very earnestly and kindly in my
name, for his proffered hospitality; and, further, to explain to him
that since my readings began, I have known them to be incompatible with
all social enjoyments, and have neither set foot in a friend's house nor
sat down to a friend's table in any one of all the many places I have
been to, but have rigidly kept myself to my hotels. To this resolution I
must hold until the last. There is not the least virtue in it. It is a
matter of stern necessity, and I submit with the worst grace possible.

Will you let me know, either at Southampton or Portsmouth, whether any
of you, and how many of you, if any, are coming over, so that Arthur
Smith may reserve good seats? Tell Lotty I hope she does not contemplate
coming to the morning reading; I always hate it so myself.

Mary and Katey are down at Gad's Hill with Georgy and Plornish, and they
have Marguerite Power and Ellen Stone staying there. I am sorry to say
that even my benevolence descries no prospect of their being able to
come to my native place.

On Saturday week, the 13th, my tour, please God, ends.

My best love to Mrs. White, and to Lotty, and to Clara.

Ever, my dear White, affectionately yours.

[Sidenote: Mr. Frank Stone, A.R.A.]

TAVISTOCK HOUSE, TAVISTOCK SQUARE, LONDON, W.C.,
_Monday, Dec. 13th, 1858._

MY DEAR STONE,

Many thanks for these discourses. They are very good, I think, as
expressing what many men have felt and thought; otherwise not spe