rth on the occasion. It seemed horrible to Mr. Day that a
woman should appear in print.

It is possible that the Edgeworth family was no exception to the rule by
which large and clever and animated families are apt to live in a
certain atmosphere of their own. But, notwithstanding this strong family
bias, few people can have seen more of the world, felt its temper more
justly, or appreciated more fully the interesting varieties of people to
be found in it than Maria Edgeworth. Within easy reach of Edgeworthtown
were different agreeable and cultivated houses. There was Pakenham Hall
with Lord Longford for its master; one of its daughters was the future
Duchess of Wellington, 'who was always Kitty Pakenham for her old
friends.' There at Castle Forbes also lived, I take it, more than one
of the well-bred and delightful persons, out of 'Patronage,' and the
'Absentee,' who may, in real life, have borne the names of Lady Moira
and Lady Granard. Besides, there were cousins and relations without
number--Foxes, Ruxtons, marriages and intermarriages; and when the time
came for occasional absences and expeditions from home, the circles seem
to have spread incalculably in every direction. The Edgeworths appear to
have been a genuinely sociable clan, interested in others and certainly
interesting to them.

VI.

The first letter given in the Memoirs from Maria to her favourite aunt
Ruxton is a very sad one, which tells of the early death of her sister
Honora, a beautiful girl of fifteen, the only daughter of Mrs. Honora
Edgeworth, who died of consumption, as her mother had died. This letter,
written in the dry phraseology of the time, is nevertheless full of
feeling, above all for her father who was, as Maria says elsewhere,
ever since she could think or feel, the first object and motive of her
mind.

Mrs. Edgeworth describes her sister-in-law as follows:--

Mrs. Ruxton resembled her brother in the wit and vivacity of her
mind and strong affections; her grace and charm of manner were
such that a gentleman once said of her; 'If I were to see Mrs.
Ruxton in rags as a beggar woman sitting on the doorstep, I should
say "Madam" to her.' 'To write to her Aunt Ruxton was, as long as
she lived, Maria's greatest pleasure while away from her,' says
Mrs. Edgeworth, 'and to be with her was a happiness she enjoyed
with never flagging and supreme delight. Blackcastle was within a
few hours' drive of Edge