Jane Austen, Her Life and Letters: A Family RecordAusten-Leigh, William
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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 events of yesterday were, our going to
Belgrave Chapel in the morning, our being
prevented by the rain from going to evening
service at St. James, Mr. Hampson's calling,
Messrs. Barlow and Phillips[251] dining here, and
Mr. and Mrs. Tilson's[252] coming in the evening
_a l'ordinaire_. _She_ drank tea with us both
Thursday and Saturday; _he_ dined out each day,
and on Friday we were with them, and they wish us
to go to them to-morrow evening to meet Miss
Burdett, but I do not know how it will end. Henry
talks of a drive to Hampstead, which may interfere
with it.
I should like to see Miss Burdett very well, but
that I am rather frightened by hearing that she
wishes to be introduced to _me_. If I _am_ a wild
beast I cannot help it. It is not my own fault.
* * * * *
Get us the best weather you can for Wednesday,
Thursday, and Friday. We are to go to Windsor in
our way to Henley, which will be a great delight.
We shall be leaving Sloane Street about 12, two or
three hours after Charles's party have begun their
journey. You will miss them, but the comfort of
getting back into your own room will be great. And
then the tea and sugar!
* * * * *
I am very much obliged to Fanny for her letter; it
made me laugh heartily, but I cannot pretend to
answer it. Even had I more time, I should not
feel at all sure of the sort of letter that Miss
D.[253] would write. I hope Miss Benn is got well
again, and will have a comfortable dinner with you
to-day.
_Monday Evening._--We have been both to the
exhibition and Sir J. Reynolds's, and I am
disappointed, for there was nothing like Mrs. D.
at either. I can only imagine that Mr. D. prizes
any picture of her too much to like it should be
exposed to the public eye. I can imagine he would
have that sort of feeling--that mixture of love,
pride, and delicacy.
Setting aside this disappointment, I had great
amusement among the pictures; and the driving
about, the carriage being open, was very pleasant.
I liked my solitary elegance very much, and was
ready to laugh all the time at my being where I
was. I could not but feel that I had naturally
small right to be parading about London in a
barouche.
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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