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
I suppose you see the corpse? How does it appear? We are anxious to be
assured that Edward will not attend the funeral, but when it comes to
the point I think he must feel it impossible.
Your parcel shall set off on Monday, and I hope the shoes will fit;
Martha and I both tried them on. I shall send you such of your mourning
as I think most likely to be useful, reserving for myself your stockings
and half the velvet, in which selfish arrangement I know I am doing what
you wish.
I am to be in bombazeen and crape, according to what we are told is
universal here, and which agrees with Martha's previous observation. My
mourning, however, will not impoverish me, for by having my velvet
pelisse fresh lined and made up, I am sure I shall have no occasion this
winter for anything new of that sort. I take my cloak for the lining,
and shall send yours on the chance of its doing something of the same
for you, though I believe your pelisse is in better repair than mine.
One Miss Baker makes my gown and the other my bonnet, which is to be
silk covered with crape.
I have written to Edward Cooper, and hope he will not send one of his
letters of cruel comfort to my poor brother: and yesterday I wrote to
Alethea Bigg, in reply to a letter from her. She tells us in confidence
that Catherine is to be married on Tuesday se'nnight. Mr. Hill is
expected at Manydown in the course of the ensuing week.
We are desired by Mrs. Harrison and Miss Austen to say everything proper
for them to yourself and Edward on this sad occasion, especially that
nothing but a wish of not giving additional trouble where so much is
inevitable prevents their writing themselves to express their concern.
They seem truly to feel concern.
I am glad you can say what you do of Mrs. Knight and of Goodnestone in
general. It is a great relief to me to know that the shock did not make
any of them ill. But what a task was yours to announce it! Now I hope
you are not overpowered with letter-writing, as Henry and John can ease
you of many of your correspondents.
Was Mr. Scudamore in the house at the time, was any application
attempted, and is the seizure at all accounted for?
_Sunday._--As Edward's letter to his son is not come here, we know that
you must have been informed as early as Friday of the boys being at
Steventon, which I am glad of.
Upon your letter to Dr. Goddard's being forwarded to them, Mary wrote to
ask whether my mother wished to have her grandsons sent to her. We
decided on their remaining where they were, which I hope my brother will
approve of. I am sure he will do us the justice of believing that in
such a decision we sacrificed inclination to what we thought best.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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