‘My dear Sir,—I have decided to publish “Master Humphrey’s Clock” in half-yearly volumes, each volume containing, of course, the collected numbers for that period. As the first of these will be out at the end of September, and I want to settle a point I have in my mind, let me ask a favour of you at once.
‘Have you any objection to my dedicating the book to you, and so having one page in it which will afford me earnest and lasting gratification? I will not tell you how many strong and cordial feelings move me to this inquiry, for I am unwilling to parade, even before you, the sincere and affectionate regard which I seek to gratify.
‘If I wrote a quire of notes, I could say no more than this. I must leave a great deal understood, and only say, with a most hearty adaptation of what has passed into a very heartless form, that I am always,
