[284] Edward Knight and his daughter Fanny were to arrive that day. [285] See p. 311. [286] No doubt there were other cases in which particular traits of character were taken from those around her. Her brother Francis certainly thought that the domestic industry of Captain Harville (in _Persuasion_) was copied from himself. (Addenda to _Sailor Brothers_.) [287] The _Memoir_ calls it 'one pound.' The difference is not material, but Mrs. Norris would probably not be above giving herself the benefit of the doubt. CHAPTER XVII _EMMA_ 1814-1815 The last letter but one of the foregoing chapter contains two sentences mentioning the writer's brother, Mr. Knight, which will help us to carry on our story. Writing on March 5, 1814, Jane says: 'It is a nasty day for everybody. Edward's spirits will be wanting sunshine, and here is nothing but thickness and sleet'; and towards the conclusion of the same letter we find the following: 'Perhaps you have not heard that Edward has a good chance of escaping his lawsuit. His opponent "knocks under." The terms of agreement are not quite settled.' There can, we think, be little doubt that both passages--the depressed and the hopeful--refer to a claim over Edward's Hampshire property made by some of the heirs-at-law of the former Knight family whom the Brodnaxes of Godmersham had succeeded. Unfortunately, the cheerful forecast contained in the second passage did not prove to be in accordance with the facts. The lawsuit hung on for three years and was then compromised by Mr. Knight's paying a large sum of money.[288] Perhaps the claim also had its influence in producing the one unflattering estimate of Jane which we shall have to lay before the reader. Miss Mitford was a convinced--but apparently a reluctant--admirer of her genius; and she dwells without disguise on what she considers the want of taste in _Pride and Prejudice_, though even here she adds that Miss Austen 'wants nothing but the _beau ideal_ of the female character to be a perfect novel writer.' In another letter she refers to her mother's unfavourable reminiscences of Jane Austen as a husband-hunter; although Mrs. Mitford's remark must (as we have already pointed out[289]) have been based on an entire misrepresentation, owing to Jane's youthful age at the time when that lady could have known her. * * * * * She proceeds thus:--