XXXI. LADY MORGAN. IN naming one of her early novels " The "Wild Irish G-irl," Lady Morgan gave the public an inkling of her own character. The world Wild, however, has acquired opprobrious meanings, none of which apply to her inno- cent and high-bred vivacity. She was a true specimen of the Irish race, gay, witty, liberal, but ever loyal to friends and duty. No contrast could be greater than her exuber- ant gayety with the constrained existence and despotic formalism to which we are accustomed ; and hence the interest she excites in us. Here is her strange, eventful history, a history possible only to a child of Erin. On Christmas eve, 1783, a party was gathered in Dub- lin at the house of a popular Irish actor, by name Robert Owenson. His wife was not present, having excused her- self on the plea of indisposition ; but the feast progressed merrily, with singing, toasts, and story-telling, and it was already Christmas morning when a breathless messenger appeared on the threshold to inform the host of the arrival of an unexpected Christmas present from his wife. He hastily quitted the room on receiving the announcement, and an hour later returned beaming to his guests (who had not thought of dispersing in the meantime) bringing word that all was going well, ancThe was the proud father of "a dear little Irish girl," the blessing he had long wished for. This intelligence was greeted with a half-suppressed cheer by the company, who 23 (377)
