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 LADY MORGAN. 383 vacation at the time, and they were left at home under the guardianship of the faithful Molly until their school should reopen, the true cause of their father's journey being unknown to them. But Sydney was not easily kept in the dark, and it was not long before her father received a letter from her, containing a strange mingling of fore- sight and simplicity. " Mr. O'F has been here," she wrote. " He has told me all, and I have seen your name on the list of Statutes of Bankruptcy. He said it was the best and honestest, indeed, the only thing that could be done, and that you will come out of this terrible dilemma as well considered and respected as you have hitherto lived ; but that time, and great economy, and your resuming your theatrical position with Mr. Daly at the Theatre Royal, were indispensable. Now, for all this, dear sir, we must relieve you from the terrible expense you have been at for our education. Of this, I am resolved to relieve you, and to earn money for you instead of spending the little you will have for some time to come." An important statement in italics, follows : " Now, dear papa, I have two novels nearly finished I '" Her plan was to go out as a governess while she finished these works, and she had already heard of two situations, either of which she thought she could fill. A short postscript to the letter shows that her talent for being agreeable had already begun to be recognized. " P. S. Captain Earle and Captain White Benson, who you may remember at Kilkenny were always running after us, called yesterday ; but Molly would not let them in, which I thought was rather impertinent of her. However, as things are at present, I believe it was all for the best." Her next letter shows the manner in which she faced the embarrassments of her position. She begins by com-