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
MY DEAR CASSANDRA,--You were wrong in thinking of
us at Guildford last night: we were at Cobham. On
reaching G. we found that John and his horses were
gone on. We therefore did no more there than we
did at Farnham--sit in the carriage while fresh
horses were put in--and proceeded directly to
Cobham, which we reached by seven, and about eight
were sitting down to a very nice roast fowl, &c.
We had altogether a very good journey, and
everything at Cobham was comfortable. I could not
pay Mr. Herington! That was the only alas! of the
business. I shall therefore return his bill, and
my mother's L2, that you may try your luck. We did
not begin reading till Bentley Green. Henry's
approbation is hitherto even equal to my wishes.
He says it is very different from the other two,
but does not appear to think it at all inferior.
He has only married Mrs. R. I am afraid he has
gone through the most entertaining part. He took
to Lady B. and Mrs. N. most kindly, and gives
great praise to the drawing of the characters. He
understands them all, likes Fanny, and, I think,
foresees how it will all be. I finished the
_Heroine_[281] last night, and was very much
amused by it. I wonder James did not like it
better. It diverted me exceedingly. We went to bed
at ten. I was very tired, but slept to a miracle,
and am lovely to-day, and at present Henry seems
to have no complaint. We left Cobham at half-past
eight, stopped to bait and breakfast at Kingston,
and were in this house considerably before two,
quite in the style of Mr. Knight. Nice smiling Mr.
Barlowe met us at the door and, in reply to
enquiries after news, said that peace was
generally expected. I have taken possession of my
bedroom, unpacked my bandbox, sent Miss P.'s two
letters to the twopenny post, been visited by
M^{de} Bigeon and am now writing by myself at the
new table in the front room. It is snowing. We had
some snowstorms[282] yesterday, and a smart frost
at night, which gave us a hard road from Cobham to
Kingston; but as it was then getting dirty and
heavy, Henry had a pair of leaders put on from the
latter place to the bottom of Sloane St. His own
horses, therefore, cannot have had hard work. I
watched for _veils_ as we drove through the
streets, and had the pleasure of seeing several
upon vulgar heads. And now, how do you all
do?--you in particular, after the worry of
yesterday and the day before. I hope Martha had a
pleasant visit again, and that you and my mother
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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