her laboured efforts to
move and walk, and the difficulty she experienced in getting into or out
of a cab or carriage.

THE PALACE, CHICHESTER, _October 1869_.

MY DEAR F.--I hope you will soon receive another polling paper. I
suppose you did not pay your subscription last year, and so paid
for two years in one. If I were as clever as Mr. Lowe perhaps I
should contrive to squeeze a little more out of our subscribers,
and make them all the while feel that it was the most natural thing
in the world that they should make double payments. This is the way
to do business, is it not? Double payments, bringing about double
receipts; very nice thing, you know, for the receivers; and as to
the other side of the question, why, you know, we needn't look too
closely into that. You see many persons are quite unable to look at
more than one side of a question, so that limited views have their
advantages. Does Mr. Lowe think so?

Well, I should hope very much to see you and Miss B. on Thursday,
and if you can't have me, please just write to 210 Oxford Street
and say so, and then I will tell you where to come. I don't know
yet where I shall be, but very probably at Miss R.'s at 117 Gloster
Terrace. Love to Miss B. From yours affectionately,
E. GILBERT.

At this time Bessie was warmly interested in, and very hopeful as to the
results of, Mr. Gladstone's efforts on behalf of Ireland, and referred
frequently to the subject. In the following letter to her sister, Mrs.
Elliot, there is a mention of orders for work. She was unable on account
of the state of her health to write as much as usual, and therefore gave
more time to knitting vests and muffetees, and making watch chains. The
money received for them went to her "work-bag," and helped to relieve
the necessities of deserving blind people:

THE PALACE, CHICHESTER, _23d December 1869_.

MY DEAR KATE--I send you my loving Christmas greetings with some of
the home violets to sweeten them withal. It was very tantalising
seeing you, or rather not seeing you, like that in London. I was so
glad you thought I moved better. I do, and it is such a comfort I
can't tell you. Still I find a difference directly if I get too
much tired. I had hoped to have had so