216 ADELAIDE PEOCTER. was a governess, didn't you ? ' said I ; to which he replied in the most emphatic and positive manner, ' A governess.' " He then came and stood in the corner of the hearth, with his back to the fire, and delivered himself like an oracle concerning you. He told ine that early in life (conveying to me the impression of about a century ago) you had had your feelings desperately wounded by some cause, real or imaginary — ' It does not matter which,' said I with the greatest sagacity — and that you had then taken to writing verses. That you were of an unhappy temperament, but keenly sensitive to encouragement. That you wrote after the educational duties of the day were discharged. That you sometimes thought of never writing any more. That you had been away for some time ' with your pupils.' That your letters were of a mild and melancholy character, and that you did not seem to care as much as might be expected about money. All this time I sat poking the fire, with a wisdom upon me absolutely crushing ; and finally I begged him to assure the lady that she might trust me with her real address, and that it would be better to have it now, as I hoped our further communications, etc. You must have felt enormously wicked last Tuesday, when I, such a babe in the wood, was unconsciously prattling to you. But you have given me so much pleasure, and have made me shed so many tears, that I can only think of you now in association with the sentiment and grace of your verses. " So pray accept the blessing and forgiveness of Richard "Watts, though I am afraid you come under both his con- ditions of exclusion. Very faithfully yours, Charles Dickens." The allusion in the last paragraph is to the house at Rochester known as " Watts' Charity," the inscription upon which states that it will furnish a night's lodging to six poor travelers, " not being Rogues or Proctors."
