er, say I." Then this letter was signed
Judy Corcoran,--for she too was of the family of the Corcorans,--and
became the matter for many arrangements, in the course of which she
once more was put into office as cook at Castle Morony.

Then Edith wrote the following letter to her friend Rachel, who still
remained in London, partly because of her health and partly because
her father had not yet quite settled his political affairs. But that
shall be explained in another chapter.

DEAREST RACHEL,

Here we are beginning to see daylight, after having been
buried in Cimmerian darkness for the best part of two
years. I never thought how possible it would be to get
along without servants to look after us, and how much
of the pleasures of life might come without any of its
comforts. Ada and I for many months have made every bed
that has been slept in in the house, till we have come to
think that the making of beds is the proper employment for
ladies. And every bit of food has been cooked by us, till
that too has become ladylike in our eyes. And it has been
done for papa, who has, I think, liked his bed and his
dinner all the better, because they have passed through
his daughters' hands. But, dear papa! I'm afraid he has
not borne the Cimmerian darkness as well as have we, who
have been young enough to look forward to the return of
something better.

What am I to say to you about Frank, who will not talk
much of your perfections, though he is always thinking
of them? I believe he writes to you constantly, though
what he says, or of what nature it is, I can only
guess. I presume he does not send many messages to Lord
Castlewell, who, however, as far as I can see, has behaved
beautifully. What more can a girl want than to have a lord
to fall in love with her, and to give her up just as her
inclination may declare itself?

What I write for now, specially, is to add a word to what
I presume Frank may have said in one of his letters. Papa
says that neither you nor Mr. O'Mahony are to think of
leaving this side of the water without coming down to
Castle Morony. We have got a cook now, and a cow-boy. What
more can you want? And old Peter is here still, always
talking about the infinite things which he has done for
the Jones family. Joking apart, you must of course come
and see us again once before you start for New York. Is