and enlarged, and finally given to the world in 1861. This was done with the encouragement of her now aged father, who lived long enough to read it aloud with a parent's pride to a small but sympathetic and happy audience. This drama attracted the-attention of historical students and literary critics, alike for its severe accuracy and its glow of enthusiasm, and was indeed very favourably noticed by the Athenæum and the Saturday Review, at that time the two rulers of the literary world. It was published anonymously, Louisa at all times shrinking timidly from public notice, and it required the suggestion and persuasion of others to induce her to appear in print at all.
After their father's death the sisters remained eight years in their desolate home, and then they found a new one in Firgrove, at Sunninghill, Berkshire. Here in an interregnum of poetical occupation she imbibed an interest in political and social questions which lasted and strengthened to the end. In taking up these interests she followed almost instinctively, as in her, early literary outset, the steps of her more actively originating sister. This was caused by no kind
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