Part 11 (2/2)

We arrived here yesterday between four and five, but I cannot send you quite so triumphant an account of our last day's journey as of the first and second Soon after I had finished an to suffer froood deal indisposed

Ja to tea, and h to talk very cheerfully to him before she went to bedThey [James and Mary] were to have dined here to-day, but the weather is too bad I have had the pleasure of hearing that Martha is with them

James fetched her from Ibthorp on Thursday, and she will stay with therand indeed; I had the dignity of dropping out ht I carry about the keys of the wine and closet, and twice since I began this letter have had orders to give in the kitchen Our dinner was very good yesterday and the chicken boiled perfectly tender; therefore I shall not be obliged to dismiss Nanny on that account

Your letter was chaperoned here by one froe_[81] is not to come out before January, and she is so little satisfied with Cawthorn's dilatoriness that she never ain

Mrs Hall, of Sherborne, was brought to bed yesterday of a dead child, soht I suppose she happened unawares to look at her husband

There has been a great deal of rain here for this last fortnight, much more than in Kent, and indeed we found the roads all the way froracefully dirty Steventon Lane has its full share of it, and I don't knohen I shall be able to get to Deane

My dear _itty Dordy's_ re, because I knoill be over so soon My attachment to him will be ht on his beautiful and s overnable ungracious fellow

The books fro has coood room in the bookcase for all that ish to have there I believe the servants were all very glad to see us

Nanny was, I am sure She confesses that it was very dull, and yet she had her child with her till last Sunday I understand that there are soathered as soon as possible, or this rain will entirely rot them

Saturday [November 17, 1798][82]

My ood housekeeper, which I have no reluctance in doing, because I really think it my peculiar excellence, and for this reason--I always take care to provide such things as please my own appetite, which I consider as the chief out veal, and I mean to have so soon

There is to be a ball at Basingstoke next Thursday Our assemblies have very kindly declined ever since we laid down the carriage, so that dis-convenience and dis-inclination to go have kept pace together

_Sunday_--I have just received a note froht, at eleven o'clock, of a fine little boy,[83] and that everything is going on very well Myof it before it should be all over, and ere clever enough to prevent her having any suspicion of it, though Jenny, who had been left here by her mistress, was sent for home

Steventon: Sunday [November 25, 1798]

MY DEAR SISTER,--I expected to have heard fro, but no letter is co to you anyence, you always sit down and write to James I am sure nobody can desire your letters so much as I do, and I don't think anybody deserves thereat deal of malevolence, I will proceed to tell you that Mary continues quite well, and my mother tolerably so

I saw the forh I had seen her comparatively hearty the Tuesday before, I was really amazed at the improvement which three days had ood, and she spoke orously than Elizabeth did e left Godlimpse at the child, as asleep; but Miss Debary told e, dark, and handsoown in worsteds, and wears what Mrs Birch would call a _pot hat_ A short and coot _Fitz-Albini_;[84] ainst s that we should purchase the only one of Egerton's works of which his family are ashamed That these scruples, however, do not at all interfere withit, you will easily believe We have neither of us yet finished the first volume My father is disappointed--_I_ a better Never did any book carry more internal evidence of its author Every sentierton's There is very little story, and what there is is told in a strange, unconnected way There are many characters introduced, apparently nise any of them hitherto, except Dr and Mrs Hey and Mr Oxenden, who is not very tenderly treated

We have got Boswell's _Tour to the Hebrides_, and are to have his _Life of Johnson_; and as some money will yet remain in Burdon's hands, it is to be laid out in the purchase of Cowper's works

This would please Mr Clarke, could he know it

Steventon: [December 1, 1798]