which Mr. Proctor and Mr. Archer correctly deciphered, and which
Mr. Cuming Walters misinterprets. On December 22, 1869, Dickens
wrote to Forster that two numbers of his romance were "now in type.
Charles Collins has designed an excellent cover." Mr. C. A.
Collins had married a daughter of Dickens. {4} He was an artist, a
great friend of Dickens, and author of that charming book, "A
Cruise on Wheels." His design of the paper cover of the story (it
appeared in monthly numbers) contained, as usual, sketches which
give an inkling of the events in the tale. Mr. Collins was to have
illustrated the book; but, finally, Mr. (now Sir) Luke Fildes
undertook the task. Mr. Collins died in 1873. It appears that
Forster never asked him the meaning of his designs--a singular
oversight.

The cover lies before the reader. In the left-hand top corner
appears an allegorical female figure of joy, with flowers. The
central top space contains the front of Cloisterham Cathedral, or
rather, the nave. To the left walks Edwin, with hyacinthine locks,
and a thoroughly classical type of face, and Grecian nose. LIKE
DATCHERY, HE DOES NOT WEAR, BUT CARRIES HIS HAT; this means
nothing, if they are in the nave. He seems bored. On his arm is
Rosa; SHE seems bored; she trails her parasol, and looks away from
Edwin, looks down, to her right. On the spectator's right march
the surpliced men and boys of the Choir. Behind them is Jasper,
black whiskers and all; he stares after Edwin and Rosa; his right
hand hides his mouth. In the corner above him is an allegorical
female, clasping a stiletto.

Beneath Edwin and Rosa is, first, an allegorical female figure,
looking at a placard, headed "LOST," on a door. Under that, again,