Jane Austen, Her Life and Letters: A Family RecordAusten-Leigh, William
General
Jane Austen, Her Life and Letters: A Family Record
Austen-Leigh, William
Austen, Jane, 1775-1817; Austen, Jane, 1775-1817 -- Family; Novelists, English -- 19th century -- Family relationships
The month of June 1808 found Jane staying with her brother Henry in
Brompton[172]; but we have no details of her stay beyond the fact that
she watched some of her acquaintance going to Court on the King's
birthday. On June 14 she left London with her brother James, his wife
and two children, on a visit to Godmersham.
Godmersham: Wednesday [June 15, 1808].
MY DEAR CASSANDRA,--Where shall I begin? Which of
all my important nothings shall I tell you first?
At half after seven yesterday morning Henry saw us
into our own carriage, and we drove away from the
Bath Hotel; which, by-the-bye, had been found most
uncomfortable quarters--very dirty, very noisy,
and very ill-provided. James began his journey by
the coach at five. Our first eight miles were hot;
Deptford Hill brought to my mind our hot journey
into Kent fourteen years ago; but after Blackheath
we suffered nothing, and as the day advanced it
grew quite cool. At Dartford, which we reached
within the two hours and three-quarters, we went
to the Bull, the same inn at which we breakfasted
in that said journey, and on the present occasion
had about the same bad butter.
At half-past ten we were again off, and,
travelling on without any adventure reached
Sittingbourne by three. Daniel was watching for
us at the door of the 'George,' and I was
acknowledged very kindly by Mr. and Mrs. Marshall,
to the latter of whom I devoted my conversation,
while Mary went out to buy some gloves. A few
minutes, of course, did for Sittingbourne; and so
off we drove, drove, drove, and by six o'clock
were at Godmersham.
Our two brothers[173] were walking before the
house as we approached, as natural as life. Fanny
and Lizzie met us in the Hall with a great deal of
pleasant joy; we went for a few minutes into the
breakfast parlour, and then proceeded to our
rooms. Mary has the Hall chamber. I am in the
Yellow room--very literally--for I am writing in
it at this moment. It seems odd to me to have such
a great place all to myself, and to be at
Godmersham without you is also odd.
You are wished for, I assure you: Fanny, who came
to me as soon as she had seen her Aunt James to
her room, and stayed while I dressed, was as
energetic as usual in her longings for you. She is
grown both in height and size since last year, but
not immoderately, looks very well, and seems as to
conduct and manner just what she was and what one
could wish her to continue.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account