26

MISS EDGEWORTH-TOUCHING VIEW OF PEASANTRY.

and she a little child that time; sweet love! all gone!' The old woman wiped a tear from her eye, and Lord Colambre did what he could to appear indifferent. She set down the candle and left the room; Lord Colambre went to bed, but he lay awake, 'revolving sweet and bitter thoughts.'

"The kettle was on the fire, tea things set, every thing prepared for her guest, by the hospitable hostess, who, thinking the gentleman would take tea to his breakfast, had sent off a gossoon by the first light to Clonbrony, for an ounce of tea, a quarter of sugar, and a loaf of white bread; and there was on the little table good cream, milk, butter, eggs all the promise of an excellent breakfast. It was a fresh morning, and there was a pleasant fire on the hearth neatly swept up. The old woman was sitting in her chimney corner, behind a little skreen of white-washed wall, built out into the room, for the purpose of keeping those who sat at the fire from the blast of the door. There was a loop-hole in this wall, to let the light in, just at the height of a person's head, who was sitting near the chimney. The rays of the morning sun now came through it, shining across the face of the old woman, as she sat knitting; Lord Colambre thought he had seldom seen a more agreeable countenance; intelligent eyes, benevolent smile, a natural expression of cheerfulness, subdued by age and misfortune. 'A good morrow to you kindly, sir, and I hope you got the night well? A fine day for us this Sunday morning; my Grace is gone to early prayers, so your honour will be content with an old woman to make your breakfast.-O, let me put in plenty, or it will never be good; and if your honour takes stirabout, an old hand will engage to make that to your liking any way, for by great happiness we have what will just answer for you, of the nicest meal the miller made my Grace a compliment of, last time she went to the mill.””. p. 171-179.

In the course of conversation, she informs her guest of the precarious tenure on which she held the little possession that formed her only means of subsistence.

"The good lord himself granted us the lase; the life's dropped, and the years is out: but we had a promise of renewal in writing from the landlord. God bless him! if he was not away, he'd be a good gentleman, and we'd be happy and safe.' But if you have a promise in writing of a renewal, surely, you are safe, whether your landlord is absent or present.'-'Ah, no! that makes a great differ, when there's no eye or hand over the agent. Yet, indeed, there," added she, after a pause, as you say, I think we are safe; for we have that memorandum in writing, with a pencil, under his own hand, on the back of the lase, to me, by the same token, when my good lord had his foot on the step of the coach, going away; and I'll never forget the smile of her that got that good turn done for me, Miss Grace. And just when she was going to England and London, and young as she was, to have the thought to stop and turn to the likes of me! O, then, if you could see her, and know her as I did! That was the comforting angel upon earth-look and voice, and heart and all! O, that she was here

DELIGHTFUL NATIONALITIES.

6

27

present, this minute!-But did you scald yourself?' said the widow to Lord Colambre. Sure, you must have scalded yourself: for you poured the kettle straight over your hand, and it boiling! O deear! to think of so young a gentleman's hand shaking so like my own.'Luckily, to prevent her pursuing her observations from the hand to the face, which might have betrayed more than Lord Colambre wished she should know, her own Grace came in at this instant - There it's for you safe, mother dear—the lase!' said Grace, throwing a packet into her lap. The old woman lifted up her hands to heaven with the lease between them-Thanks be to Heaven! Grace passed on, and sunk down on the first seat she could reach. Her face flushed, and, looking much fatigued, she loosened the strings of her bonnet and cloak.— 'Then, I'm tired!' but, recollecting herself, she rose, and curtsied to the gentleman.-'What tired ye, dear?'-'Why, after prayers, we had to go-for the agent was not at prayers, nor at home for us, when we called-we had to go all the way up to the castle; and there, by great good luck, we found Mr. Nick Garraghty himself, come from Dublin, and the lase in his hands; and he sealed it up that way, and handed it to me very civil. I never saw him so good-though he offered me a glass of spirits, which was not manners to a decent young woman, in a morning—as Brian noticed after.' -'But why didn't Brian come home all the way with you, Grace?' He would have seen me home,' said Grace, only that he went up a piece of the mountain for some stones or ore for the gentleman, for he had the manners to think of him this morning, though shame for me, I had not, when I came in, or I would not have told you all this, and he himself by. See, there he is, mother.'-Brian came in very hot, out of breath, with his hat full of stones. 'Good morrow to your honour. I was in bed last night; and sorry they did not call me up to be of sarvice. Larry was telling us, this morning, your honour's from Wales, and looking for mines in Ireland, and I heard talk that there was one on our mountain-may be, you'd be curous to see; and so, I brought the best I could, but I'm no judge."—Vol. VI. p. 182-188.

A scene of villany now begins to disclose itself, as the experienced reader must have anticipated. The pencil writing is rubbed out: but the agent promises, that if they pay up their arrears, and be handsome with their sealing money and glove money, &c. he will grant a renewal. To obtain the rent, the widow is obliged to sell her cow. But she shall tell her story in her own. words.

"Well, still it was but paper we got for the cow; then that must be gold before the agent would take, or touch it- so I was laying out to sell the dresser, and had taken the plates and cups, and little things off it, and my boy was lifting it out with Andy, the carpenter that was agreeing for it, when in comes Grace, all rosy, and out of breath it's a wonder I minded her run out, and not missed her

Mother,

-IRISH HEART AND FANCY.

says she, here's the gold for you, don't be stirring your dresser.-And where's your own gown and cloak, Grace? says I. But, I beg your pardon, sir; may be I'm tiring you?'- Lord Colambre encouraged her to go on. 'Where's your gown and cloak, Grace?' says I.'Gone,' says she. 'The cloak was too warm and heavy, and I don't doubt, mother, but it was that helped to make me faint this morning. And as to the gown, sure I've a very nice one here, that you spun for me yourself, mother; and that I prize above all the gowns that ever came out of a loom; and that Brian said became me to his fancy above any gown ever he see me wear, and what could I wish for more?'Now, I'd a mind to scold her for going to sell the gown unknown'st to me; but I don't know how it was, I couldn't scold her just then, -so kissed her, and Brian the same; and that was what no man ever did before. And she had a mind to be angry with him, but could not, nor ought not, says I; for he's as good as your husband now, Grace; and no man can part yees now, says I, putting their hands together. --Well, I never saw her look so pretty; nor there was not a happier boy that minute on God's earth than my son, nor a happier mother than myself; and I thanked God that had given them to me; and down they both fell on their knees for my blessing, little worth as it was; and my heart's blessing they had, and I laid my hands upon them. It's the priest you must get to do this for you to-morrow, says I.'"-Vol. VI. p. 205–207.

Next morning they go up in high spirits to the castle, where the villanous agent denies his promise; and is laughing at their despair, when Lord Colambre is fortunately identified by Mrs. Raffarty, who turns out to be a sister of the said agent, and, like a god in epic poetry, turns agony into triumph!

We can make room for no more now, but the epistle of Larry Brady, the good-natured postboy, to his brother, giving an account of the return of the family to Clonbrony. If Miss Edgeworth had never written any other thing, this one letter must have placed her at the very top of our scale, as an observer of character, and a mistress in the simple pathetic. We give the greater part of this extraordinary production.

"My dear brother,-Yours of the 16th, enclosing the five-pound note for my father, came safe to hand Monday last; and, with his thanks and blessing to you, he commends it to you herewith enclosed back again, on account of his being in no immediate necessity, nor likelihood to want in future, as you shall hear forthwith; but wants you over, with all speed, and the note will answer for travelling charges; for we can't enjoy the luck it has pleased God to give us, without yees: put the rest in your pocket, and read it when you've time.

RETURN OF THE ABSENTEES.

29

"Now, cock up your ears, Pat! for the great news is coming, and the good. The master's come home-long life to him!-and family come home yesterday, all entirely! The ould lord and the young lord, (ay, there's the man, Paddy!) and my lady, and Miss Nugent. And I driv Miss Nugent's maid, that maid that was, and another; so I had the luck to be in it alone wid 'em, and see all, from first to last. And first, I must tell you, my young Lord Colambre remembered and noticed me the minute he lit at our inn, and condescended to beckon at me out of the yard to him, and axed me- Friend Larry,' says he, 'did you keep your promise?'- My oath again the whiskey is it?? says İ. My Lord, I surely did,' said I; which was true, as all the country knows I never tasted a drop since. 'And I'm proud to see your honour, my lord, as good as your word too, and back again among us.' So then there was a call for the horses; and no more at that time passed betwix' my young lord and me, but that he pointed me out to the ould one, as I went off. I noticed and thanked him for it in my heart, though I did not know all the good was to come of it. Well no more of myself, for the present.

"Ogh, it's I driv 'em well; and we all got to the great gate of the park before sunset, and as fine an evening as ever you see; with the sun shining on the tops of the trees, as the ladies noticed the leaves changed, but not dropped, though so late in the season. I believe the leaves knew what they were about, and kept on, on purpose to welcom them; and the birds were singing; and I stopped whistling, that they might hear them: but sorrow bit could they hear when they got to the park gate, for there was such a crowd, and such a shout, as you never see-and they had the horses off every carriage entirely, and drew 'em home, with blessings, through the park. And, God bless 'em, when they got out, they didn't go shut themselves up in the great drawing-room, but went straight out to the tirrass, to satisfy the eyes and hearts that followed them. My lady laning on my young lord, and Miss Grace Nugent that was, the beautifullest angel that ever you set eyes on, with the finest complexion and sweetest of smiles, laning upon the ould lord's arm, who had his hat off, bowing to all, and noticing the old tenants as he passed by name. O, there was great gladness, and tears in the midst; for joy I could scarcely keep from myself.

"After a turn or two upon the tirrass, my Lord Colambre quit his mother's arm for a minute, and he come to the edge of the slope, and looked down and through all the crowd for some one. 'Is it the widow O'Neill, my lord?' says I; 'she's yonder, with the spectacles on her nose, betwixt her son and daughter, as usual.' Then my lord beckoned, and they did not know which of the tree would stir; and then he gave tree beckons with his own finger, and they all tree came fast enough to the bottom of the slope, forenent my lord; and he went down and helped the widow up, (O, he's the true jantleman,) and brought 'em all tree up on the tirrass, to my lady and Miss Nugent; and I was up close after, that I might hear, which wasn't manners; but I couldn't help it; So what he said I don't well know, for I could not get near enough after all. But I saw my lady smile very kind, and take the

30

MISS EDGEWORTH-PARADISE REGAINED.

widow O'Neill by the hand, and then my Lord Colambre 'troduced Grace to Miss Nugent, and there was the word namesake, and something about a check curtains; but whatever it was, they was all greatly pleased: then my Lord Colambre turned and looked for Brian, who had fell back, and took him with some commendation to my lord his father. And my lord the master said, which I didn't know till after, that they should have their house and farm at the ould rent; and at the surprise, the widow dropped down dead; and there was a cry as for ten berrings. 'Be qu'ite,' says I, 'she's only kilt for joy ;' and I went and lift her up, for her son had no more strength that minute than the child new born; and Grace trembled like a leaf, as white as the sheet, but not long, for the mother came to, and was as well as ever when I brought some water, which Niss Nugent handed to her with her own hand.

"That was always pretty and good,' said the widow, laying her hand upon Miss Nugent, and kind and good to me and mine. That minute there was music from below. The blind harper, O'Neill, with his harp, that struck up 'Gracey Nugent!' And that finished, and my Lord Colambre smiling, with the tears standing in his eyes too, and the ould lord quite wiping his, I ran to the tirrass brink to bid O'Neill play it again; but as I run, I thought I heard a voice call Larry.

"Who calls Larry?' says I. 'My Lord Colambre calls you, Larry,' says all at once; and four takes me by the shoulders, and spins me round. There's my young lord calling you, Larry-run for your life.' So I run back for my life, and walked respectful, with my hat in my hand, when I got near. 'Put on your hat, my father desires it,' says my Lord Colambre. The ould lord made a sign to that purpose, but was too full to speak. 'Where's your father?' continues my young lord. 'He's very ould, my lord,' says I. 'I didn't ax you how ould he was,' says he; 'but where is he?" 'He's behind the crowd below; on account of his infirmities he couldn't walk so fast as the rest, my lord,' says I; but his heart is with you, if not his body.' 'I must have his body too: so bring him bodily before us; and this shall be your warrant for so doing,' said my lord, joking. For he knows the natur of us, Paddy, and how we love a joke in our hearts, as well as if he had lived all his life in Ireland; and by the same token will, for that rason, do what he pleases with us, and more may-be than a man twice as good, that never would smile on us.

"But I'm telling you of my father. I've a warrant for you, father,' says I; and must have you bodily before the justice, and my lord chief justice.' So he changed colour a bit at first; but he saw me smile. And I've done no sin,' said he; and, Larry, you may lead me now, as you led me all my life.' And up the slope he went with me, as light as fifteen; and when we got up, my Lord Clonbrony said, 'I am sorry an old tenant, and a good old tenant, as I hear you were, should have been turned out of your farm.' 'Don't fret, it's no great matter, my lord,' said my father. I shall be soon out of the way; but if you would be so kind to speak a word for my boy here, and that I could afford, while the life is in me, to bring my other boy back out of banishment'