My mother seems remarkably well. My uncle overwalked himself at first,
and can now only travel in a chair, but is otherwise very well.
My cloak is come home. I like it very much, and can now exclaim with
delight, like J. Bond at hay-harvest, "This is what I have been looking
for these three years." I saw some gauzes in a shop in Bath Street
yesterday at only 4_d._ a yard, but they were not so good or so pretty
as mine. Flowers are very much worn, and fruit is still more the thing.
Elizabeth has a bunch of strawberries, and I have seen grapes, cherries,
plums, and apricots. There are likewise almonds and raisins, French
plums, and tamarinds at the grocers', but I have never seen any of them
in hats. A plum or greengage would cost three shillings; cherries and
grapes about five, I believe, but this is at some of the dearest shops.
My aunt has told me of a very cheap one, near Walcot Church, to which I
shall go in quest of something for you. I have never seen an old woman
at the pump-room.
Elizabeth has given me a hat, and it is not only a pretty hat, but a
pretty style of hat too. It is something like Eliza's, only, instead of
being all straw, half of it is narrow purple ribbon. I flatter myself,
however, that you can understand very little of it from this
description. Heaven forbid that I should ever offer such encouragement
to explanations as to give a clear one on any occasion myself! But I
must write no more of this. . . .
I spent Friday evening with the Mapletons, and was obliged to submit to
being pleased in spite of my inclination. We took a very charming walk
from six to eight up Beacon Hill, and across some fields, to the village
of Charlecombe, which is sweetly situated in a little green valley, as a
village with such a name ought to be. Marianne is sensible and
intelligent; and even Jane, considering how fair she is, is not
unpleasant. We had a Miss North and a Mr. Gould of our party; the latter
walked home with me after tea. He is a very young man, just entered
Oxford, wears spectacles, and has heard that "Evelina" was written by
Dr. Johnson.
I am afraid I cannot undertake to carry Martha's shoes home, for, though
we had plenty of room in our trunks when we came, we shall have many
more things to take back, and I must allow besides for my packing.
There is to be a grand gala on Tuesday evening in Sydney Gardens, a
concert, with illuminations and fireworks. To the latter Elizabeth and I
look forward with pleasure, and even the concert will have more than
its usual charm for me, as the gardens are large enough for me to get
pretty well beyond the reach of its sound. In the morning Lady
Willoughby is to present the colors to some corps, or Yeomanry, or
other, in the Crescent, and that such festivities may have a proper
commencement, we think of going to. . . .
I am quite pleased with Martha and Mrs. Lefroy for wanting the pattern
of our caps, but I am not so well pleased with your giving it to them.
Some wish, some prevailing wish, is necessary to the animation of
everybody's mind, and in gratifying this you leave them to form some
other which will not probably be half so innocent. I shall not forget to
write to Frank. Duty and love, etc.
Yours affectionately, JANE.
My uncle is quite surprised at my hearing from you so often; but as long
as we can keep the frequency of our correspondence from Martha's uncle,
we will not fear our own.
Miss AUSTEN, Steventon.