—It was long past midnight,—she had a heap of Mr.L——'s old letters beside her. She denied that she was in tears.
NOTE.
Leonora, though not published until 1806, was commenced three yearsbefore that date: the circumstances under which it was written were to acertain extent unique in Maria Edgeworth's life; for we are told thatthroughout the time occupied in writing the story, she had in mind theoffer of marriage made to her by Monsieur Edelcrantz, a Swedishgentleman of good position, "of superior understanding and mildmanners," as she told her aunt in a letter partly written before theproposal and finished afterwards. This seems, from the biographies, tohave been the only time this truly good and sensible woman was eversought in marriage by any man; and it shows some of the good qualitiesshe possessed, that though she refused him, yet from the respect shebore him and the esteem in which she held him, this story was written toa large extent with a view to his approbation, though we are told thatshe never knew whether or no he had read it.
On the next page is appended a list of the principal editions of thisvolume.
Leonora, by Maria Edgeworth, 2 vols., London, 1806.
—— Another edition, with Letters on Several Subjects, andAn Essay on Self-Justification (forming Vol. IV. of Talesand Miscellaneous Pieces, by Maria Edgeworth, 14 vols.), London,1825.
—— Another edition (Vol. XIII. of Novels and Tales of MariaEdgeworth, 18 vols.), London, 1832-33.
Many reprints from the stereotype plates of this edition have beenissued in various forms and with varying arrangement of the stories.
Translated into French in 1807, and another edition in 1812.
F. J. S.
LEONORA.
Letter i.
Lady Olivia to Lady Leonora L——.
What a misfortune it is to be born a woman! In vain, dear Leonora, wouldyou reconcile me to my doom. Condemned to incessant hypocrisy, oreverlasting misery, woman is the slave or the outcast of society.Confidence in our fellow-creatures, or in ourselves, alike forbidden us,to what purpose have we understandings, which we may not use? hearts,which we may not trust? To our unhappy sex genius and sensibility arethe most treacherous gifts of Heaven. Why should we cultivate talentsmerely to gratify the caprice of tyrants? Why seek