The Letters of Jane Austen: Selected from the compilation of her great nephew, Edward, Lord BradbourneAusten, Jane
General
The Letters of Jane Austen: Selected from the compilation of her great nephew, Edward, Lord Bradbourne
Austen, Jane
Austen, Cassandra, 1773-1845; Austen, Jane, 1775-1817 -- Correspondence; Novelists, English -- 19th century -- Correspondence
So much for the morning. Then came the dinner and Mr. Haden, who brought
good manners and clever conversation. From seven to eight the harp; at
eight Mrs. L. and Miss E. arrived, and for the rest of the evening the
drawing-room was thus arranged: on the sofa side the two ladies, Henry,
and myself making the best of it; on the opposite side Fanny and Mr.
Haden, in two chairs (I believe, at least, they had two chairs), talking
together uninterruptedly. Fancy the scene! And what is to be fancied
next? Why, that Mr. H. dines here again to-morrow. To-day we are to have
Mr. Barlow. Mr. H. is reading "Mansfield Park" for the first time, and
prefers it to P. and P.
A hare and four rabbits from Gm. yesterday, so that we are stocked for
nearly a week. Poor Farmer Andrews! I am very sorry for him, and
sincerely wish his recovery.
A better account of the sugar than I could have expected. I should like
to help you break some more. I am glad you cannot wake early; I am sure
you must have been under great arrears of rest.
Fanny and I have been to B. Chapel, and walked back with Maria Cuthbert.
We have been very little plagued with visitors this last week. I
remember only Miss Herries, the aunt, but I am in terror for to-day, a
fine bright Sunday; plenty of mortar, and nothing to do.
Henry gets out in his garden every day, but at present his inclination
for doing more seems over, nor has he now any plan for leaving London
before Dec. 18, when he thinks of going to Oxford for a few days;
to-day, indeed, his feelings are for continuing where he is through the
next two months.
One knows the uncertainty of all this; but should it be so, we must
think the best, and hope the best, and do the best; and my idea in that
case is, that when he goes to Oxford I should go home, and have nearly a
week of you before you take my place. This is only a silent project, you
know, to be gladly given up if better things occur. Henry calls himself
stronger every day, and Mr. H. keeps on approving his pulse, which seems
generally better than ever, but still they will not let him be well.
Perhaps when Fanny is gone he will be allowed to recover faster.
I am not disappointed: I never thought the little girl at Wyards very
pretty, but she will have a fine complexion and curly hair, and pass for
a beauty. We are glad the mamma's cold has not been worse, and send her
our love and good wishes by every convenient opportunity. Sweet, amiable
Frank! why does he have a cold too? Like Captain Mirvan to Mr. Duval,[36]
"I wish it well over with him."
Fanny has heard all that I have said to you about herself and Mr. H.
Thank you very much for the sight of dearest Charles's letter to
yourself. How pleasantly and how naturally he writes! and how perfect a
picture of his disposition and feelings his style conveys! Poor dear
fellow! Not a present!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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