ROWLING, Thursday (September 15).
MY DEAR CASSANDRA,--We have been very gay since I wrote last; dining at
Nackington, returning by moonlight, and everything quite in style, not
to mention Mr. Claringbould's funeral which we saw go by on Sunday. I
believe I told you in a former letter that Edward had some idea of
taking the name of Claringbould; but that scheme is over, though it
would be a very eligible as well as a very pleasant plan, would any one
advance him money enough to begin on. We rather expected Mr. Milles to
have done so on Tuesday; but to our great surprise nothing was said on
the subject, and unless it is in your power to assist your brother with
five or six hundred pounds, he must entirely give up the idea.
At Nackington we met Lady Sondes' picture over the mantelpiece in the
dining-room, and the pictures of her three children in an ante-room,
besides Mr. Scott, Miss Fletcher, Mr. Toke, Mr. J. Toke, and the
archdeacon Lynch. Miss Fletcher and I were very thick, but I am the
thinnest of the two. She wore her purple muslin, which is pretty
enough, though it does not become her complexion. There are two traits
in her character which are pleasing,--namely, she admires Camilla, and
drinks no cream in her tea. If you should ever see Lucy, you may tell
her that I scolded Miss Fletcher for her negligence in writing, as she
desired me to do, but without being able to bring her to any proper
sense of shame,--that Miss Fletcher says, in her defence, that as
everybody whom Lucy knew when she was in Canterbury has now left it, she
has nothing at all to write to her about. By _everybody_, I suppose Miss
Fletcher means that a new set of officers have arrived there. But this
is a note of my own.
Mrs. Milles, Mr. John Toke, and in short everybody of any sensibility
inquired in tender strains after you, and I took an opportunity of
assuring Mr. J. T. that neither he nor his father need longer keep
themselves single for you.
We went in our two carriages to Nackington; but how we divided I shall
leave you to surmise, merely observing that as Elizabeth and I were
without either hat or bonnet, it would not have been very convenient for
us to go in the chaise. We went by Bifrons, and I contemplated with a
melancholy pleasure the abode of him on whom I once fondly doated. We
dine to-day at Goodnestone, to meet my aunt Fielding from Margate and a
Mr. Clayton, her professed admirer--at least, so I imagine. Lady Bridges
has received very good accounts of Marianne, who is already certainly
the better for her bathing.
So His Royal Highness Sir Thomas Williams has at length sailed; the
papers say "on a cruise." But I hope they are gone to Cork, or I shall
have written in vain. Give my love to Jane, as she arrived at Steventon
yesterday, I dare say.
I sent a message to Mr. Digweed from Edward in a letter to Mary Lloyd
which she ought to receive to-day; but as I know that the Harwoods are
not very exact as to their letters, I may as well repeat it to you. Mr.
Digweed is to be informed that illness has prevented Seward's coming
over to look at the repairs intended at the farm, but that he will come
as soon as he can. Mr. Digweed may also be informed, if you think
proper, that Mr. and Mrs. Milles are to dine here to-morrow, and that
Mrs. Joan Knatchbull is to be asked to meet them. Mr. Richard Harvey's
match is put off till he has got a better Christian name, of which he
has great hopes.
Mr. Children's two sons are both going to be married, John and George.
They are to have one wife between them, a Miss Holwell, who belongs to
the Black Hole at Calcutta. I depend on hearing from James very soon; he
promised me an account of the ball, and by this time he must have
collected his ideas enough after the fatigue of dancing to give me one.
Edward and Fly went out yesterday very early in a couple of shooting
jackets, and came home like a couple of bad shots, for they killed
nothing at all. They are out again to-day, and are not yet returned.
Delightful sport! They are just come home, Edward with his two brace,
Frank with his two and a half. What amiable young men!
_Friday._--Your letter and one from Henry are just come, and the
contents of both accord with my scheme more than I had dared expect. In
one particular I could wish it otherwise, for Henry is very indifferent
indeed. You must not expect us quite so early, however, as Wednesday,
the 20th,--on that day se'nnight, according to our present plan, we may
be with you. Frank had never any idea of going away before Monday, the
26th. I shall write to Miss Mason immediately, and press her returning
with us, which Henry thinks very likely, and particularly eligible.
Buy Mary Harrison's gown by all means. You shall have mine for ever so
much money, though, if I am tolerably rich when I get home, I shall like
it very much myself.
As to the mode of our travelling to town, _I_ want to go in a
stage-coach, but Frank will not let me. As you are likely to have the
Williams and Lloyds with you next week, you would hardly find room for
us then. If any one wants anything in town, they must send their
commissions to Frank, as _I_ shall merely pass through it. The
tallow-chandler is Penlington, at the Crown and Beehive, Charles Street,
Covent Garden.
Miss AUSTEN, Steventon, Overton, Hants.