390 
PROFESSOR OWEN 
CH. xn. 
fectly overwhelmed me with delight by telling me 
you had intimated to him that you might some- 
times find leisure to write some familiar papers 
on Natural History, yourself, for this journal 
[“ Household Words ”]. 
‘ It would be in vain for me to attempt to tell 
you with what pride and pleasure I should receive 
such assistance, or what high store I should set 
by it. If you will give me such gratification and 
render the work such a service, you can’t (I must 
honestly say) enhance the regard and respect in 
which I hold you already, but you can and will 
afford me inexpressible satisfaction. 
‘ Believe me ever, 
‘ Very faithfully yours, 
‘ Charles Dickens.’ 
On the 28th of this month Dickens came with 
his wife and sister-in-law to Sheen Lodge. An 
account of this visit is given in the diary : — 
‘ October 28. — Mr. Forster travelled down 
from town with R., and at about half-past five 
Charles Dickens with his wife and her sister (Miss 
Hogarth) came. Dickens was very cheerful in 
spite of a bad cold, and I believe enjoyed himself 
exceedingly. He was much struck with the pic- 
turesque appearance of the cottage, and admired 
some of our old furniture. After dinner we had 
some music. Played Corelli with R. C. D. said 
the Corelli carried him back to his youthful days. 
