Charles is acting very strangely. He says he's in love with Queen Victoria and is upset that she is marrying a German; he even threatens to leave England. Most people around him don't know quite what to make of it and whether he is serious or joking. He wants to buy back his his copyright to Oliver Twist and is seemingly prepared to pay a hefty sum to do so. His serialization of The Old Curiosity Shop is a huge success. The death of the story's main character, Little Nell, captures the imagination of the nation, leaving many a grown man in tears.
—garykmcd