130 PROFESSOR OWEN ch. v. 



which showed that every point told. I was in- 

 formed afterwards that Dickens was heard at the 

 farthest end of the hall, and, if so, it is extra- 

 ordinary that one voice should fill such a large 

 space. Both R. and I will long remember the 

 treat. I asked Dickens to come over one June 

 day to see the garden.' 



On May 2 Owen writes to his sister Eliza, 

 telling her that his Fullerian Lectures at the 

 Royal Institution began on April 7 and were ' on 

 Birds.' After speaking again of the beauty of 

 his garden, he says : ' May-day was such as the 

 poets sing of: a bright sunny summer day. I 

 passed it pleasantly in my garden, only wishing 

 you had been here to enjoy it. I was reading 

 " Philip," in the last " Cornhill," under my cedar, 

 listening to the trill of the nightingale, about the 

 time of the opening procession amid the crowds 

 at the International Exhibition. I felt my happier 

 position.' 



The charm of Owen's country home was felt 

 by others besides himself. Among his visitors 

 was Mr. Ruskin. 



' Sunday, April 27. — Mr. Ruskin came as ex- 

 pected, and had a walk with R. At dinner we 

 had much pleasant conversation on art and lite- 

 rature. Afterwards R. read part of one of the 

 " Idylls." ' 



Other interesting visitors appear in the diary. 



'Sunday, June 1. — We had Charles Dickens, 



