nce thought that she
might be prevailed upon to accompany them to London and to live
with them. But Mrs. Mary Sneyd could not bear to leave Mrs.
Edgeworth, and this place which she has made her heart's home. She
decided Captain Beaufort and her niece to make her happy by
completing their union, and letting her feel that she did not
prevent the felicity of the two persons she loves best now in the
world. She remains with us.

The marriage is to take place next Tuesday or Thursday, and my Aunt
Mary will go to the church with her niece and give her away. I must
tell you a little characteristic trait of this aunt, the least
selfish of all human beings. She has been practicing getting up
early in the morning, which she has not done for two years--has
never got up for breakfast. But she has trained herself to rising
at the hour at which she must rise on the wedding-day, and has
walked up and down her own room the distance she must walk up and
down the aisle of the church, to insure her being accustomed to
the exertion and able to accomplish it easily. This she did for a
long time without our knowing it, till Honora found it out. Mrs.
Mary Sneyd is quite well and in excellent spirits.

A younger sister of mine, Lucy, of whom you have heard us speak as
an invalid, who was at Clifton with that dear Sophy whom we have
lost, is now recovered, and has returned home to take Honora's
place with her Aunt Mary; and Aunt Mary likes to have her, and Lucy
feels this a great motive to her to overcome a number of nervous
feelings, which formed part of her illness. A regular course of
occupations and duties, and feeling herself essential to the
happiness and the holding together of a family she so loves, will
be the best strengthening medicine for her. She arrived at home
last night. My sister Fanny and her husband, Lestock Wilson, are
with us. My sister has much improved in health; she is now able to
walk without pain, and bore her long journey and voyage here
wonderfully. I have always regretted, and always shall regret, that
this sister Fanny of mine had not the pleasure of becoming
acquainted with you. You really must revisit England. My sister
Harriet Butler, and Mr. Butler, and the three little dear Foxes,
are all around me at this instant. Barry Fox, their