The manuscript volume which contains _Evelyn_ is grandly entitled on the outside 'Volume the Third'; on the inside 'Effusions of Fancy by a very Young Lady, consisting of Tales in a Style entirely new.' It contains one other tale, unfinished, but of considerable length, called _Kitty or the Bower_, which is preceded by the following dedication, dated 'Steventon, August 1792.' TO MISS AUSTEN. MADAM,--Encouraged by your warm patronage of _The Beautiful Cassandra_ and _The History of England_, which, through your generous support, have obtained a place in every library in the Kingdom, and run through four score editions, I take the liberty of begging the same Exertions in favour of the following novel, which I humbly flatter myself possesses Merit beyond any already published, or any that will ever in future appear, except such as may proceed from the pen of your most grateful Humble Servant, THE AUTHOR. The tale begins in characteristic style, which suggests the later _Northanger Abbey_. Catharine had the misfortune, as many heroines have had before her, of losing her parents when she was very young, and of being brought up under the care of a maiden aunt, who, while she tenderly loved her, watched her conduct with so scrutinizing a severity as to make it very doubtful to many people, and to Catharine among the rest, whether she loved her or not. Catharine lives with this aunt in Devonshire, five miles from Exeter. Some friends of her aunt, a Mr. Stanley, M.P., his wife and daughter (very foolish, and suggestive of Isabella Thorpe) come to visit them. Mr. Stanley's son turns up unexpectedly and pays great attention to Catharine, much to the disgust of the aunt, who has a detestation of all young men. The tale comes to an abrupt conclusion with the departure of the guests. The story is at times amusing, but obviously immature, and we need not regret that it was never finished. Other early sketches are _Henry and Eliza_, dedicated to Miss Cooper, which must have been written before the latter's marriage at the end of 1792; _The Visit_, dedicated to the Rev. James Austen; _Jack and Alice_, and _Adventures of Mr. Harley_, dedicated to Francis William Austen, Esq., midshipman on board H.M.S. _Perseverance_ (soon after 1788), and other pieces dedicated to Charles John Austen, Esq. _Evelyn_ and _Kitty_ seem to mark a second stage in her literary education: when she was hesitating between burlesque and immature story-telling, and when indeed it seemed as if she were first taking note of all the faults to be avoided, and curiously considering how she ought _not_ to write before she attempted to put forth her strength in the right direction.