THE ABSENTEE
by MARIA EDGEWORTH 

Footnotes have been inserted in the text in square ("[]")
brackets, close to the point where they were originally. 

Characters printed in italics in the original text have been
written in capital letters in this etext. 

The British Pound Sterling symbol has been written 'L'. 

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NOTES ON 'THE ABSENTEE' 

In August 1811, we are told, she wrote a little play about
landlords and tenants for the children of her sister, Mrs.
Beddoes.  Mr.  Edgeworth tried to get the play produced on the
London boards.  Writing to her aunt, Mrs.  Ruxton, Maria says,