ith that peculiar
New York aping of a foreign accent, which is the language
that was, I am sure, generally used by the devils.

"Ask him, with my best compliments," I said, "whether he
remembers the blow I hit him in the face. Tell him I can
hit much harder than that; tell him that he will never
find me unprepared, for a moment."

Now I have got another little bit of news for you.
Somebody has found out in New York that I am making
money. It is true, in a limited way. L100 a month is
something, and so they've asked papa to subscribe as
largely as he can to a grand Home-Rule, anti-Protestant,
hate-the-English, stars-and-stripes society. It is the
most loyal and beneficent thing out, and dear papa thinks
I can do nothing better with my wealth than bestow it
upon these birds of freedom. I have no doubt they are
all right, because I am an American-Irish, and have not
the pleasure of knowing Black Tom Daly. I have given
them L200, and am, therefore, at this moment, nearly
impecunious. On this account I do not choose to give up my
engagement--L100 a month, with an additional possibility
of twenty guineas a night when August shall be here. You
will tell me that after the mild suggestion made by Mrs.
Beelzebub, I ought to walk out of the house, and go back
to County Galway immediately. I don't think so. I am
learning every day how best to stand fast on my own feet.
I am earning my money honestly, and men and women here
in London are saying that in truth I can sing. A very
nice old gentleman called on me the other day from Covent
Garden, and, making me two low bows, asked whether I was
my own mistress some time in October next. I thought at
the moment that I was at any rate free from the further
engagement proposed by Mrs. Beelzebub, and told him that I
was free. Then he made me two lower bows, touched the tip
of my fingers, and said that he would be proud to wait
upon me in a few days with a definite proposal. This old
gentleman may mean twenty guineas a night for the whole
of next winter, or something like L250 a month. Think
of that, Mr. Jones. But how am I to go on in my present
impecunious position if I quarrel altogether with my bread
and butter? So now you know all about it.

Remember that I have told my father nothing as to Mrs.
Beelzebub's proposition. It is better not; he would disown