We have seen how Miss Elizabeth Sneyd, who could not make up her mind to
marry Mr. Day notwithstanding all he had gone through for her sake, had
eventually consented to become Mr. Edgeworth's third wife. With this
stepmother for many years to come Maria lived in an affectionate
intimacy, only to be exceeded by that most faithful companionship which
existed for fifty years between her and the lady from whose memoirs I
quote.
It was about 1782 that Maria went home to live at Edgeworthtown with
her father and his wife, with the many young brothers and sisters. The
family was a large one, and already consisted of her own sisters, of
Honora the daughter of Mrs. Honora, and Lovell her son. To these
succeeded many others of the third generation; and two sisters of Mrs.
Edgeworth's, who also made their home at Edgeworthtown.
Maria had once before been there, "very young, but she was now old
enough to be struck with the difference then so striking between
Ireland and England." The tones and looks, the melancholy and the
gaiety of the people, were so new and extraordinary to her that
the delineations she long afterwards made of Irish character
probably owe their life and truth to the impression made on her
mind at this time as a stranger. Though it was June when they
landed, there was snow on the roses she ran out to gather, and she
felt altogether in a new and unfamiliar country.
She herself describes the feelings of the master of a family returning
to an Irish home:--
Wherever he turned his eyes, in or out of his home, damp
dilapidation, waste appeared. Painting, glazing, roofing, fencing,
finishing--all were wanting. The backyard and even the front
lawn round the windows of the house were filled with loungers,
followers, and petitioners; tenants, undertenants, drivers,
sub-agent and agent were to have audience; and they all had
grievances and secret informations, accusations, reciprocations,
and quarrels each under each interminable.