The former establishment was presided over by the Countess of Blessington, at this time a widow, still young and still attractive, though beginning to be burdened with the care of an establishment too expensive for her means. She was the author of a good many novels, now almost forgotten--it is odd how well one knows the name of Lady Blessington, and how little is generally known about her history, literary or personal--and she edited every year one of the ‘Keepsakes’ or ‘Forget-me-Nots.’ From certain indications, the bearing of which her biographer, Mr. Madden, did not seem to understand, I gather that her novels did not prove to the publishers the literary success which they expected, and I also infer--from the fact that she was always changing them--that a dinner at Gore House and the society of all the wits after dinner were not always attractions strong enough to loosen their purse-strings. This lady, whose maiden name was Power, was of an Irish family, her father being engaged, when he was not shooting rebels, in unsuccessful trade. Her life was adventurous and also scandalous. She was married at sixteen to a Captain Farmer, from whom she speedily separated, and came over to London, where she lived for some years--her biographer does not explain how she got money--a grass widow. When Lord Blessington lost his wife, and Mrs. Farmer lost her husband--the gallant Captain got drunk, and fell out of a window--they were married, and went abroad travelling in great state, as an English milor of those days knew how to travel, with a train of half-a-dozen carriages, his own cook and valet, the Countess’s women, a whole _batterie de cuisine_, a quantity of furniture, couriers, and footmen, and his own great carriage. With them went the Count d’Orsay, then about two-and-twenty, and young Charles Mathews, then about twenty, a _protégé_ of Lord Blessington, who was a friend and patron of the drama. [Illustration: HOLLAND HOUSE] After Lord Blessington died it was arranged that Count d’Orsay should marry his daughter. But the Count separated from his wife a week or two after the wedding, and returned to the widow, whom he never afterwards left, always taking a lodging near her house, and forming part of her household. The Countess d’Orsay, one need not explain, did not visit her stepmother at Gore House. [Illustration: Thomas Moore -SAMUEL ROGERS-]