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[Illustration: --It was long past midnight,--she had a heap of Mr.
L----'s old letters beside her. She denied that she was in tears.]




  LEONORA

  BY

  MARIA EDGEWORTH

  [Illustration]

  "O lady Leonora! lady Leonora is ill!" exclaimed
  every voice. The consternation was wonderful.

  LONDON
  J.M. DENT & Co. ALDINE HOUSE
  69, GREAT EASTERN STREET, E.C.
  1893




[Illustration]

  NOTE.


Leonora, though not published until 1806, was commenced three years
before that date: the circumstances under which it was written were to a
certain extent unique in Maria Edgeworth's life; for we are told that
throughout the time occupied in writing the story, she had in mind the
offer of marriage made to her by Monsieur Edelcrantz, a Swedish
gentleman of good position, "of superior understanding and mild
manners," as she told her aunt in a letter partly written before the
proposal and finished afterwards. This seems, from the biographies, to
have been the only time this truly good and sensible woman was ever
sought in marriage by any man; and it shows some of the good qualities
she possessed, that though she refused him, yet from the respect she
bore him and the esteem in which she held him, this story was written to
a large extent with a view