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
Many thanks for your kind care for my health; I certainly have not been
well for many weeks, and about a week ago I was very poorly. I have had
a good deal of fever at times, and indifferent nights; but I am
considerably better now, and am recovering my looks a little, which have
been bad enough,--black and white, and every wrong color. I must not
depend upon being ever very blooming again. Sickness is a dangerous
indulgence at my time of life. Thank you for everything you tell me. I
do not feel worthy of it by anything that I can say in return, but I
assure you my pleasure in your letters is quite as great as ever, and I
am interested and amused just as you could wish me. If there is a Miss
_Marsden_, I perceive whom she will marry.
_Evening._--I was languid and dull and very bad company when I wrote the
above; I am better now, to my own feelings at least, and wish I may be
more agreeable. We are going to have rain, and after that very pleasant
genial weather, which will exactly do for me, as my saddle will then be
completed, and air and exercise is what I want. Indeed, I shall be very
glad when the event at Scarlets is over, the expectation of it keeps us
in a worry, your grandmamma especially; she sits brooding over evils
which cannot be remedied, and conduct impossible to be understood.
Now the reports from Keppel St. are rather better; little Harriot's
headaches are abated, and Sir Evd. is satisfied with the effect of the
mercury, and does not despair of a cure. The complaint I find is not
considered incurable nowadays, provided the patient be young enough not
to have the head hardened. The water in that case may be drawn off by
mercury. But though this is a new idea to us, perhaps it may have been
long familiar to you through your friend Mr. Scud. I hope his high
renown is sustained by driving away William's cough.
Tell Wm. that Triggs is as beautiful and condescending as ever, and was
so good as to dine with us to-day, and tell him that I often play at
nines and think of him.
The Papillons came back on Friday night, but I have not seen them yet,
as I do not venture to church. I cannot hear, however, but that they are
the same Mr. P. and his sister they used to be. She has engaged a new
maidservant in Mrs. Calker's room, whom she means to make also
housekeeper under herself.
Old Philmore was buried yesterday, and I, by way of saying something to
Triggs, observed that it had been a very handsome funeral; but his
manner of reply made me suppose that it was not generally esteemed so. I
can only be sure of one part being very handsome,--Triggs himself,
walking behind in his green coat. Mrs. Philmore attended as chief
mourner, in bombazine, made very short, and flounced with crape.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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