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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES UNIVERSITY of CALIFORNIA <GELES r rir»r-» « mr THE NOVELS AND LETTERS OF JANE AUSTEN Edited by REGINALD BRIMLEY JOHNSON with an Introduction by WILLIAM LYON PHELPS, Ph.D. Complete in Twelve Volumes A £* O r> CL THE NOVELS AND LETTERS OF JANE AUSTEN Edited by REGINALD BRIMLEY JOHNSON with an Introduction by WILLIAM LYON PHELPS, Ph.D. Complete in Twelve Volumes AP VG STONELEIGH EDITION Tin's Edition of the Novels and Letters of Jane Austen is limited to twelve hundred and fifty numbered and registered copies of which this is Copy No. 1 U b & t£L>S Vestibule at 4 Sydney Place, Bath THE NOVELS AND LETTERS OF JANE AUSTEN Edited by R. BRIMLEY JOHNSON with an Introduction by PROF. WILLIAM LYON PHELPS, Ph. D. Lampson Professor of English Literature, Yale University. LETTERS OF JANE AUSTEN Part II With Colored Illustrations by C.E. and H. M. BROCK The House in Winchester, where Jane Austen died. FRANK S. HOLBY NEW YORK PHILADELPHIA MCMVI 4c ILLUSTRATIONS Vestibule at 4 Sydney Place, Bath . Frontispiece I AGE No. 4 Sydney Place, Bath, formerly the residence of Jane Austen vi Facsimile of an autograph letter of Jane Austen 3 No. 4 Sydney Place, Bath, formerly the residence of Jane- Austen ^3 'S3 S3 _- .--, p Ml H .11 LETTERS OF JANE AUSTEN -unite of an autograph letter of Jane Austen J iC ( V 13 i "% \ ^ K V\ u S \l^ s»e^-^M^-«««i' t*s tu*^. f ^An^&t. Ce^&a^S-^ w»„„V^t. ^ec^JT&a^Si^j *</,<.. ',?2£?r <*~r/— &<i./- fi**^<.£l j&*»~ut^ . ,i*.,AU/i. .1<j<~ s&i^f szJejZ- _ c&s^-k^ /g/Ci^ •* ^^ rf«~. a**^. £%&*— **:<*/-&- ^Cuun^^i&b*, <^. AbJL jAjiz^J^TZi Ss~/,.<.S~ *£*«***- cfA^~*i *=<y*»-t-t- jt?*i~tsf~ v:S^t^ /7?-iJ>*~r-, s2^>1l-££l> t^**"-*--/ &f fr ^ __ _ / ^ *>gr. *<iU. **** ^ A^y sZr-^^HSCr. ^.^^r^f,,^ A~A*y. (\^. ..^ ^.ik. i«s«t a»B= ^ts^sasii^^s^r 1? Letters of Jane Austen 77 xxxvil T^- Southampton: February 8. My dearest Cassandra, My expectation of having nothing to say to you after the conclusion of my last seems nearer truth than I thought it would be, for I feel to have but little. I need not, therefore, be above acknowledging the rceipt of yours this morning, or of replying to every part of it which is capable of an answer, and you may accord- ingly prepare for my ringing the changes of the glads and sorrys for the rest of the page. Unluckily, however, I see nothing to be glad of, unless I make it a matter of joy that Mrs. Wylmot has another son, and that Lord Lucan has taken a mistress, both of which events are, of course, joyful to the actors; but to be sorry I find many occasions. The first is, that your return is to be delayed, and whether I ever get beyond the first is doubtful. It is no use to lament. I never heard that even Queen Mary's lamentation did [3] LETTERS OF JANE AUSTEN her any good, and I could not, therefore, expect benefit from mine. We are all sorry, and now that subject is exhausted. I heard from Martha yesterday. She spends this week with the Harwoods, goes afterwards with James and Mary for a few days to see Peter Debary and two of his sisters at Eversley, the living of which he has gained on the death of Sir R. Cope, and means to be here on the 24th, which will be Tuesday fortnight. I shall be truly glad if she can keep to her day, but dare not de- pend on it, and am so apprehensive of farther de- tention, that, if nothing else occurs to create it, I cannot help thinking she will marry Peter Debary. It vexed me that I could not get any fish for Kintbury while their family was large, but so it was; and till last Tuesday I could procure none. I then sent them four pair of small soles, and should be glad to be certain of their arriving in good time, but I have heard nothing about them since, and had rather hear nothing than evil. They cost six shillings, and as they travelled in a basket which came from Kintbury a few days before with poultry, &c, I insist upon treating you with the booking, whatever it may be. You are only eighteen pence in my debt. Mrs. E. Leigh did not make the slightest allu- sion to my uncle's business, as I remember telling [4] LETTERS OF JANE AUSTEN you at the time, but you shall have it as often as you like. My mother wrote to her a week ago. Martha's rug is just finished, and looks well, though not quite so well as I had hoped. I see no fault in the border, but the middle is dingy. My mother desires me to say that she will knit one for you as soon as you return to choose the colours and pattern. I am sorry I have affronted you on the subject of Mr. Moore, but I do not mean ever to like him; and as to pitying a young woman merely because she cannot live in two places at the same time, and at once enjoy the comforts of being married and single, I shall not attempt it, even for Harriet. You see I have a spirit as well as yourself. Frank and Mary cannot at all approve of your not being at home in time to help them in their finishing purchases, and desire me to say that, if you are not, they will be as spiteful as possible, and choose everything in the style most likely to vex you—knives that will not cut, glasses that will not hold, a sofa without a seat, and a book- case without shelves. Our garden is putting in order by a man who bears a remarkably good character, has a very fine complexion, and asks something less than the first. The shrubs which border the gravel walk, [5] LETTERS OF JANE AUSTEN he says, are only sweetbriar and roses, and the latter of an indifferent sort; we mean to get a few of a better kind, therefore, and at my own particular desire he procures us some syringas. I could not do without a syringa, for the sake of Cowper's line. We talk also of a laburnum. The border under the terrace wall is clearing away to receive currants and gooseberry bushes, and a spot is found very proper for raspberries. The alterations and improvements within doors, too, advance very properly, and the offices will be made very convenient indeed. Our dress- ing table is constructing on the spot, out of a large kitchen table belonging to the house, for doing which we have the permission of Mr. Husket, Lord Lansdown's painter—domestic painter, I should call him, for he lives in the castle. Domestic chaplains have given way to this more necessary office, and I suppose when- ever the walls want no touching up he is em- ployed about my lady's face. The morning was so wet that I was afraid we should not be able to see our little visitor, but Frank, who alone could go to church, called for her after service, and she is now talking away at my side and examining the treasures of my writing-desk drawers—very happy, I believe. Not at all shy, of course. Her name is Catherine, and her sister's Caroline. She is something like [6] LETTERS OF JANE AUSTEN her brother, and as short for her age, but not so well-looking. What is become of all the shyness in the world? Moral as well as natural diseases disappear in the progress of time, and new ones take their place. Shyness and the sweating sickness have given way to confidence and paralytic complaints. I am sorry to hear of Mrs. Whitfield's increas- ing illness, and of poor Marianne Bridges hav- ing suffered so much ; these are some of my sor- rows; and that Mrs. Deedes is to have another child I suppose I may lament. The death of Mrs. W. K. we had seen. I had no idea that anybody liked her, and therefore felt nothing for any survivor, but I am now feeling away on her husband's account, and think he had better marry Miss Sharpe. I have this instant made my present, and have the pleasure of seeing it smiled over with gen- uine satisfaction. I am sure I may, on this oc- casion, call Kitty Foote, as Hastings did H. Egerton, my " very valuable friend." Evening.—Our little visitor has just left us, and left us highly pleased with her ; she is a nice, natural, open-hearted, affectionate girl, with all the ready civility which one sees in the best chil- dren in the present day ; so unlike anything that I was myself at her age, that I am often all aston- ishment and shame. Half her time was spent at m LETTERS OF JANE AUSTEN spillikins, which I consider as a very valuable part of our household furniture, and as not the least important benefaction from the family of Knight to that of Austen. But I must tell you a story. Mary has for some time had notice from Mrs. Dickson of the intended arrival of a certain Miss Fowler in this place.

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