Off the shining locks of the ever

 the platform, of itself told plainly enough, as plainly as the printed
hills announcing the fact in red, back, and yellow, that it was his last
appearance. The Readings selected were, as the very best that could have
been chosen, his own favourites--"The Christmas Carol," and the "Trial
from Pickwick." He never read better in his life than he did on that
last evening. Evidently enough, he was nerved to a crowning effort. And
by sympathy his audience--his last audience--responded to him throughout
by their instant and intense appreciation. Not a point was lost. Every
good thing told to the echo, that is, through the echoing laughter.
Scrooge, Fezziwig, the Fiddler, Topper, every one of the Cratchits,
everybody in "The Carol," including the Small Boy who is so great at
repartee, all were welcomed in turn, as became them, with better than
acclamations. It was the same exactly with the "Trial from
Pickwick"--Justice Stareleigh, Serjeant Buzfuz, Mr. Winkle, Mrs.
Cluppins, Sam Weller, one after another appearing for a brief interval,
and then disappearing for ever, each of them a delightfully humorous,
one of them in particular, the Judge, a simply incomparable
impersonation. Then came the moment of parting between the great Author
and his audience--that last audience who were there as the
representatives of his immense public in both hemispheres. When the
resounding applause that greeted the close of that Final Reading had
died out, there was a breathless hush as Charles Dickens, who had for
once lingered there upon the platform, addressed to his hearers, with
exquisitely clear articulation, but with unmistakably profound emotion,
these few and simple words of farewell:-- "Ladies and Gentlemen,--It
would be worse than "idle, for it would be hypocritical and unfeeling,
if I "were to disguise that I close this episode in my life "with
feelings of very considerable pain. For some "fifteen years in this
hall, and in many kindred places, "I have had the honour of presenting
my own che- "rished ideas before you for your recognition, and in
"closely observing your reception of them have en- "joyed an amount of
artistic delight and instruction, "which perhaps it is given to few men
to know

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