Dora Annie Dickens

[3] According to her oldest sister, Mary, on 14 April 1851 her father spent much of his time "playing with the children and carrying little Dora about the house and garden" of their Devonshire Terrace home.

Shortly before he spoke, his friend John Forster was called out of the room by one of Charles' servants, who came with the news that Dora had suddenly died after convulsions.

"Half an hour before Charles rose to speak I had been called out of the room by one of the servants from Devonshire-terrace to tell me his child Dora was suddenly dead.

She had not been strong from her birth; but there was just at this time no cause for special fear, when unexpected convulsions came, and the frail little life passed away.

Mary later recalled, "I remember what a change seemed to have come over my dear father's face when we saw him again ... how pale and sad it looked.

"[4][5] All that night he sat keeping watch over his daughter's body, supported by his friend Mark Lemon.

Forster, with his usual affection for us, comes down to bring you this letter and to bring you home, but I cannot close it without putting the strongest entreaty and injunction upon you to come with perfect composure—to remember what I have often told you, that we never can expect to be exempt, as to our many children, from the afflictions of other parents, and that if,—if—when you come, I should even have to say to you, "Our little baby is dead," you are to do your duty to the rest, and to shew yourself worthy of the great trust you hold in them.

Ever affectionately, Charles Dickens Catherine then "fell into a state of 'morbid' grief and suffering", recovering her composure after twelve hours or so.

The inscription reads "Dora Annie, the ninth child of Charles and Catherine Dickens, died 14th.