CHARLES DICKENS. 219 



in the chalet in the garden, uninterrupted save for luncheon. 

 He was late in leaving the chalet ; dinner was ordered for 

 six o'clock, but before that time he wrote several letters, 

 one to Mr. Charles Kent, arranging to see him in London next 

 day. At dinner his sister-in-law. Miss Hogarth, noticed 

 with pain a troubled expression in his face. ' For an hour,' 

 he said, ' he had been very ill, but he did not wish the 

 dinner to be interrupted.' These were the last coherent 

 words said to have been uttered by him. His talk continued 

 to be rambling, and in attempting to rise, his sister-in-law's 

 help alone prevented him from falling where he stood. En- 

 deavouring to get him to the sofa, he sank heavily to the 

 ground, falling on his left side. * On the ground ' were 

 the last words spoken by him. His family were telegraphed 

 for, and medical aid was called in ; but the case was hopeless, 

 znd he died on the evening of Thursday, 9th June, having 

 lived four months beyond his fifty-eighth year. The immediate 

 cause of death was from effusion of blood on the brain, 

 brought on by overwork. The public journals, from the Times 

 onwards, gave expression to their feeling at the loss which 

 had been sustained. The Queen telegraphed her regret 

 from Balmoral, where she had been staying. A grave in 

 Westminster Abbey was offered for the deceased^ and although 

 he would himself have preferred to have found his last resting- 

 place at Rochester, the proposal was accepted, and the 

 funeral, strictly private, took place on Tuesday, 14th June. 

 The stone placed upon his grave is inscribed — 



CHARLES DICKENS. 



Born February the Seventh 181::. 



Died June the Ninth 1870. 



