t. We are told
that it was not so much that she said brilliant things, but that a
general perfume of wit ran through her conversation, and she most
certainly had the gift of appreciating the good things of others.
Whether in that 'scene of simplicity, truth, and nature' a London rout,
or in some quiet Hampstead parlour talking to an old friend, or in her
own home among books and relations and interests of every sort, Miss
Edgeworth seems to have been constantly the same, with presence of mind
and presence of heart too, ready to respond to everything. I think her
warmth of heart shines even brighter than her wit at times. 'I could not
bear the idea that you suspected me of being so weak, so vain, so
senseless,' she once wrote to Mrs. Barbauld, 'as to have my head turned
by a little fashionable flattery.' If her head was not turned it must
have been because her spirit was stout enough to withstand the world's
almost irresistible influence.

Not only the great men but the women too are among her friends. She
writes prettily of Mrs. Somerville, with her smiling eyes and pink
colour, her soft voice, strong, well-bred Scotch accent, timid, not
disqualifying timid, but naturally modest. 'While her head is among the
stars her feet are firm upon the earth.' She is 'delighted' with a
criticism of Madame de Stael's upon herself, in a letter to M. Dumont.
'Vraiment elle etait digne de l'enthousiasme, mais elle se perd dans
votre triste utilite.' It is difficult to understand why this should
have given Miss Edgeworth so much pleasure; and here finally is a little
vision conjured up for us of her meeting with Mrs. Fry among her
prisoners:--

Little doors, and thick doors, and doors of all sorts were
unbolted and unlocked, and on we went through dreary but clean
passages till we came to a room where rows of empty benches
fronted us, a table on which lay a large Bible. Several ladies and
gentlemen entered, took their seats on benches at either side of
the table in silence. Enter Mrs. Fry in a drab-coloured silk cloak
and a plain, borderless Quaker cap, a most benevolent countenance,
calm, benign. 'I must make an inquiry. Is Maria Edgeworth here?'
And when I went forward she bade me come and sit beside her. Her
first smile as she looked upon me I can never forget. The
prisoners came in in an orderly manner and ranged themselves upon
the benches.

XV.

'In this my sixtieth year, to