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
We have not been to any public place lately, nor performed anything out
of the common daily routine of No. 13 Queen Square, Bath. But to-day we
were to have dashed away at a very extraordinary rate, by dining out,
had it not so happened that we did not go.
Edward renewed his acquaintance lately with Mr. Evelyn, who lives in the
Queen's Parade, and was invited to a family dinner, which I believe at
first Elizabeth was rather sorry at his accepting; but yesterday Mrs.
Evelyn called on us, and her manners were so pleasing that we liked the
idea of going very much. The Biggs would call her a nice woman. But Mr.
Evelyn, who was indisposed yesterday, is worse to-day, and we are put
off.
It is rather impertinent to suggest any household care to a housekeeper,
but I just venture to say that the coffee-mill will be wanted every day
while Edward is at Steventon, as he always drinks coffee for breakfast.
Fanny desires her love to you, her love to grandpapa, her love to Anna,
and her love to Hannah; the latter is particularly to be remembered.
Edward desires his love to you, to grandpapa, to Anna, to little Edward,
to Aunt James and Uncle James, and he hopes all your turkeys and ducks
and chicken and guinea fowls are very well; and he wishes you very much
to send him a printed letter, and so does Fanny--and they both rather
think they shall answer it. . . .
Dr. Gardiner was married yesterday to Mrs. Percy and her three
daughters.
Now I will give you the history of Mary's veil, in the purchase of which
I have so considerably involved you that it is my duty to economize for
you in the flowers. I had no difficulty in getting a muslin veil for
half a guinea, and not much more in discovering afterwards that the
muslin was thick, dirty, and ragged, and therefore would by no means do
for a united gift. I changed it consequently as soon as I could, and,
considering what a state my imprudence had reduced me to, I thought
myself lucky in getting a black lace one for sixteen shillings. I hope
the half of that sum will not greatly exceed what you had intended to
offer upon the altar of sister-in-law affection.
Yours affectionately, JANE.
They do not seem to trouble you much from Manydown. I have long wanted
to quarrel with them, and I believe I shall take this opportunity. There
is no denying that they are very capricious--for they like to enjoy
their elder sister's company when they can.
Miss AUSTEN, Steventon, Overton, Hants.
FOOTNOTE:
[4] The title first chosen for "Pride and Prejudice."
XVII.
STEVENTON, Thursday (November 20, 1800).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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