Ever faithfully.
Lady Olliffe.
Lord Warden Hotel, Dover,
Sunday, Twenty-sixth May, 1861.
My dear Lady Olliffe,
I have run away to this sea-beach to get rid of my neuralgic face.
Touching the kind invitations received from you this morning, I feel that the only course I can take—without being a Humbug—is to decline them. After the middle of June I shall be mostly at Gad's Hill—I know that I cannot do better than keep out of the way of hot rooms and late dinners, and what would you think of me, or call me, if I were to accept and not come!
No, no, no. Be still my soul. Be virtuous, eminent author. Do not accept, my Dickens. She is to come to Gad's Hill with her spouse. Await her there, my child. (Thus the voice of wisdom.)
My dear Lady Olliffe,
Ever affectionately yours.
Mrs. Milner Gibson.