that I can
fight my battles by myself; and if you did come, there
would be an end altogether to the L200 which I am earning.
To give him his due, he's very punctual with his money,
only that he wants to pay me in advance, which I will
never have. He has been liberal about my dresses, telling
me to order just what I want, and have the bill sent in
to the costume manager. When I have worn them they become
the property of the theatre. God help any poor young woman
that will ever be expected to get into them. So now you
know exactly how I am standing with Mahomet M. M.

Poor father goes about to public meetings, but never is
allowed to open his mouth for fear he should say something
about the Queen. I don't mean that he is really watched,
but he promised in Ireland not to lecture any more if they
would let him go, and he wishes to keep his word. But I
fear it makes him very unhappy. He has, at any rate, the
comfort of coming home and giving me the lecture, which
he ought to have delivered to more sympathetic ears. Not
but what I do care about the people; only how am I to
know whether they ought to be allowed to make their own
petticoats, or why it is that they don't do so? He says
it's the London Parliament; and that if they had members
in College Green, the young women would go to work at
once, and make petticoats for all the world. I don't
understand it, and wish that he had someone else to
lecture to.

How are you getting on with all your own pet troubles? Is
the little subsiding lake at Ballintubber still a lake?
And what about poor Florian and his religion? Has he told
up as yet? I fear, I fear, that poor Florian has been
fibbing, and that there will be no peace for him or for
your father till the truth has been told.

Now, sir, I have told you everything, just as a young
woman ought to tell her future lord and master. You
say you ought to know what Moss is doing. You do know,
exactly, as far as I can tell you. Of course you wouldn't
like to see him, but then you have the comfort of knowing
that I don't like it either. I suppose it is a comfort,
eh, my bold young man? Of course you want me to hate the
pig, and I do hate him. You may be sure that I will get
rid of him as soon as I conveniently can. But for the
present he is a necessary evil. If you had a home to give
me, I would come