MS. until the following March or April. This caused her a good deal of anxiety and involved overwork

and pressure.

Writing to the author, Miss Rowland-Grey, in November, she refers to her hurry over Doreen in the postscript, but I quote nearly the whole letter as it is of some interest.

"Thank you so much for your book; it was very kind of you to send it to me, and you know how much I appreciate your writing. Her One Ambition is very sad, and I know you will be pleased to hear I cried over it! I shall indeed remember your kind invitation, and should much enjoy meeting you all again some day. I am frantically busy just now, but as the weather is too bad for me to go out it doesn't much matter, and somehow in the autumn one always feels inclined for a good 'grind'. I send you, with many apologies for the delay, the Autobiography. Excuse this hurried letter, and with renewed thanks for your story and your kind thought of me," etc., etc.

"P.S.-Your words about To Right the Wrong cheer me very much. I was afraid it was much too historical. The fact is, when once you begin really to study those times and to dive into the past, the fascination of the work takes hold of you, and in trying to throw fresh light on what has been so obscured by romantic untruths one is apt to become dry and over-minute. Ten years hence I shall perhaps see how much better the story might have been as regards construction. Forgive my long delay in sending this letter. I am being

dreadfully hurried, as Doreen will probably have to come out very quickly in America."

Two Christmas letters may here be quoted, with interesting references to the coming book.

"Your letter was a great pleasure to me and should have been answered long before, but it has been a very busy autumn with us. I am still working hard at Doreen, but she is nearly finished, and the first part is already being printed in America and in The Christian World here. I do hope that you will not read her in weekly portions! It is a horrid system and quite spoils a novel. . . . I was much surprised and pleased a few days ago to see in a newspaper that Mr. Gladstone's attention had been called by a 'well-known Liberal member' to the appearance of my Irish story, and he wrote some most kind words about it, wishing it success.

I am wondering much

who the member can have been."

To another friend she writes on the 23rd of December :

-

"We are all well and very busy. Doreen and the typewriter have retired to the spare room, and I have had to leave poor Max (the hero) almost tearing his hair, pacing his study with great drops of perspiration on his forehead, until next Tuesday! He has just discovered Doreen's letter in the safe with the diamonds! and must remain in torture till Boxing Day!"

CHAPTER IX.

BUSY YEARS-1894-1897.

Switzerland Lady Verney-Scotland-Ireland-Letter from Mr. Gladstone-Mr. Michael Davitt-Mr. W. O'Brien-Mr. Ben Greet-Mr. A. S. Homewood-How the Children Raised the Wind-Armenia--The Sign of the Cross-Stratford-on-Avon-The Autobiography of a Truth-The Archbishop of YorkCanon Rawnsley-Wayfaring Men-Women Writers' Dinner— The Burges monument-The Critic.

CHAPTER IX.

BUSY YEARS-1894-1897.

"Surely... it is by the fearless right-doing of each man and woman that all good comes."-Autobiography of a Truth.

EDNA LYALL was very busy finishing her Irish story and correcting the proofs for the American edition through the opening months of 1894. She consulted Mr. Michael Davitt, who corrected some mistakes in the brogue, and also Mrs. Davies with regard to the musical part of the story. She feared the book might make her many enemies in consequence of the Home Rule element in it, but said as long as it was read as well as abused that must be put up with.

On the change of the Ministry this spring she

wrote:

"Is not this news of Mr. Gladstone's resignation sad? And yet in a way we feel that the opportunity was a good one, and his speech was grand and ought to inspirit the man who is to play Joshua to his Moses."

In March she went for a few weeks' rest to Switzerland with some friends, correcting the last proofs of Doreen in the train and posting them off to the publishers from Basle.