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my mind, and as I sat there in my room I tried to reproduce it. I believe that very night was my turning point—everything dated from that. On the 4th December, 1869, the first number of the Graphic appeared, and in it was a full-page a full-page drawing of 'Applicants for admission to a Casual Ward.'"

Study for drawing of Edwin Drood.

Just about this time Dickens was on the look out for somebody to illustrate "The Mystery of Edwin Drood." He had asked both Millais and Frith to help him. One night Millais surprised the great novelist by going to his house just after dinner, and throwing him a copy of a paper—the first number of the Graphic—shouted:—

"I've found your man!" and he showed Dickens the picture of "The Casuals."

"Yes, but can he draw a pretty girl?" asked Dickens.

So it came about that Dickens requested his publishers to write to young Fildes, asking him if he would undertake the work, at the same time requesting him to submit one or two sketches of "girls." Two special sketches of incidents from "David Copperfield were made—one of which, "Old Peggotty and Little Emily," is reproduced in these pages—and Dickens was satisfied. They began work together.

A study.

"He was very kind to me," said Mr. Fildes. "He was then living opposite the Marble Arch, and he asked me to many of his entertainments. He was almost fatherly, he seemed to throw a protecting air over me, and always elaborately introduced me to his guests. Soon after he went to Gad's Hill he wrote asking me to come and spend a week with him there. He mentioned the day I was to go, and that he would meet me. He wanted to show me some scenes he intended introducing in 'Edwin Drood,' particularly one for the 24th drawing, a cell in Rochester Gaol he remembered seeing when a child, and had never seen since. He wished me to do John Jasper in the condemned cell—what bearing that may have upon the true mystery of Edwin Drood will never be known, for it never appeared. I had packed up—preparatory to starting that same day—was just finishing