Part 12 (1/2)

MY DEAR CassANDRA,--I aain thus speedily, to let you know that I have just heard from Frank He was at Cadiz, alive and well, on October 19, and had then very lately received a letter froo as when the _London_ was at St Helen's But his _raly_ latest intelligence of us was in one froot to Godmershaland, early in October, to go by the _Excellent_; but the _Excellent_ was not sailed, nor likely to sail, when he despatched this to me It comprehended letters for both of us, for Lord Spencer,[85] Mr

Daysh,[86] and the East India Directors Lord St

Vincent had left the fleet when he wrote, and was gone to Gibraltar, it was said to superintend the fitting out of a private expedition froainst some of the enemies' ports; Minorca or Malta were conjectured to be the objects

Frank writes in good spirits, but says that our correspondence cannot be so easily carried on in future as it has been, as the communication between Cadiz and Lisbon is less frequent than formerly You andintervals that may divide his letters I address this advice to you two as being the most tender-hearted of the fa-roo spectators yesterday afternoon, and we all drank tea together for the first tiht, and bids fair for a continuance in the same brilliant course of action to-day

Mr Lyford[87] was here yesterday; he caant entertain him to sit down to table, for we had so He wants my mother to look yellow and to throw out a rash, but she will do neither

We live entirely in the dressing-rooant in it than in the parlour

I have s since I came ho, which at present giveshair is always plaited up out of sight, and

_Sunday_--My father is glad to hear so good an account of Edward's pigs, and desires he ement to his taste for thes, has had pigstyes of a ant construction built for the as soon as he rises

This and the following letter contain allusions to Jane's wearing caps

Those intended for use at balls, &c would be ser as well as older women[88] In later life, the Miss Austens seem to have been rather indifferent to fashi+on and beauty in their clothing, although always very neat

Steventon: Tuesday [Deceo of asking your black velvet bonnet to lend me its cahich it very readily did, and by which I have been enabled to give a considerable ietty_ to please me I shall wear it on Thursday, but I hope you will not be offended withyour advice as to its ornaments only in part I still venture to retain the narrow silver round it, put twice round without any bow, and instead of the blacksmarter, and besides, coquelicot is to be all the fashi+on this winter After the ball I shall probably make it entirely black

I anity of ill-usage My father rite to Admiral Gambier[89] He must have already received so e of Frank, that he will be delighted, I dare say, to have another of the faed to e--for his _love_ at least; his _duty_, I suppose, was only in consequence of some hint of my favourable intentions towards him from his father or mother I am sincerely rejoiced, however, that I ever was born, since it has been thehim a dish of tea[90] Give my best love to him

I have received a very civil note fro my name as a subscriber to her library, which opens January 14, and iven My lad of, but hardly expected As an inducement to subscribe, Mrs Martin tells me that her collection is not to consist only of novels, but of every kind of literature, &c She reat novel-readers and not asha so; but it was necessary, I suppose, to the self-consequence of half her subscribers

I enjoyed the hard black frosts of last week very much, and one day while they lasted walked to Deane byin my life before

We dine now at half-past three, and have done dinner, I suppose, before you begin We drink tea at half-past six I am afraid you will despise us

My father reads Cowper to us in the , to which I listen when I can How do you spend your evenings? I guess that Elizabeth works, that you read to her, and that Edward goes to sleep

_Wednesday_--I have changed s of ested I felt as if I should not prosper if I strayed from your directions, and I think it ham now than it did before, which is all that one lives for now I believe I _shall_ own like my robe, but the back of the latter is all in a piece with the tail, and will seven yards enable et so horribly poor and economical in this part of the world that I have no patience with them Kent is the only place for happiness; everybody is rich there I hbourhood