The Charles Dickens Letters Project

To SUSANNA ARETHUSA MILNER GIBSON1 [11 OCTOBER 1847]

Facsimile in Christie’s online catalogue, May 2014

Date: ‘November’ was written in mistake for October, given the context.

DEVONSHIRE TERRACE,

Eleventh November 1847.2

My Dear Mrs Gibson.

I will make a note of the twenty fourth — and come if I can (of which I have a3 little doubt) — and let you know beforehand.

Your pretty little protegée4 has played the Devil with us by her delay; but it was quite natural, and I can’t blame her.

Very faithfully Yours

CHARLES DICKENS

Mrs. Milner Gibson.

P.S. My love to the bright daughter.5

• 1. Susanna Arethusa Gibson (1814-85), society hostess. See Pilgrim Letters 4, p. 106n.
• 2. The date is CD’s mistake, presumably for 11 October 1847, as he reports the result of his interview with the girl in a letter to Mrs Gibson dated 26 October 1847. See Pilgrim Letters 5, p. 176.
• 3. Added over caret.
• 4. Thus in MS. The girl was put forward by Mrs Gibson for the post of matron of Urania Cottage (the home for homeless women established by CD), but was passed over on account of her youth and inexperience. See To Mrs Gibson, 26 October 1847 (Pilgrim Letters 5, p. 176).
• 5. Alice Mary Milner Gibson.