, filled with turf, and
all ready for lighting, with a great basket lined with tin, and also
filled with the same fuel, reminded us strongly that we were in Ireland.
Large wax candles were on the mantel-piece, and every convenience
necessary to our comfort; at the same time the furniture was so very
old-fashioned and dilapidated, that no one in this country would think
it possible to use it.

We were shown other contrivances of the former owner, such as a door in
the entrance hall, (through which the servants were continually
passing,) the motion of which wound up a clock, the face being over the
sideboard, in the dining-room. Several doors in the house were made
double, in a way that I could not see the use of. Two doors were
fastened together at the hinge side, making a right angle with each
other, so that in opening one door you shut the other, and had to open
that before you could enter, and when that opened, the one behind you
shut. Miss Edgeworth said it was for safety in times of danger. She
always mentioned her father with great respect, and even reverence, in
her manner; but nothing that I saw or heard there raised my opinion of
him. I think his never allowing his gifted daughter any retirement, but
insisting on her writing all her books in that great library, where he
was teaching the children their lessons, and everyone occupied in
various ways, was a real act of tyranny; but she did not so regard it.

In building his house, Mr. Edgeworth would have no drawing-room, no
sitting-room, but the one large library, with numerous windows on one
side, some made into alcoves by projecting book-shelves. There were a
great many books, some fine engravings, beautiful drawings, and very
good oil paintings by Mrs. Edgeworth. It was a very pleasant
family-room, fully furnished with tables, sofas, and lounges, a curious
clock, and various models. A little old-fashioned work-table, with a
small desk on it, was used by Miss Edgeworth for writing all her books.

The fourth wife of Mr. Edgeworth was our hostess, and performed her part
charmingly. She must have been very pretty, for, though short, fat, and
forty, her appearance was very agreeable. Miss Edgeworth was shorter
still, and carried herself very upright, with a dapper figure and quick
movements. She was the remains of a blonde, with light eyes and hair;
she was now gray, but wore a dark frisette, whilst the gray hair showed
through her cap behind. She was so plain tha