Part 32 (2/2)

I have been applied to for information as to the oath taken in forive Perhaps youat Manydown Ladies who read those enorreat stupid thick quarto volumes which one always sees in the breakfast parlour therein the world I detest a quarto

Capt Pasley's book is too good for their Society

They will not understand a hts into an octavo

Miss Benn dined here on Friday I have not seen her since--there is still work for one eveningof the P's The C's are at hoeworth I have disposed of Mrs Grant for the second fortnight to Mrs D It can hts in the year the three volumes lay in her house

Yours very affectionately, J AUSTEN

Miss Austen, Manydown--by favour of Mr Gray

As she read and re-read _Pride and Prejudice_, Jane must have become aware (if she did not know it before) that she had advanced far beyond _Sense and Sensibility_ Indeed, the earlier work seems to fade out of her mind, so far as allusions to its principal characters are concerned; while those of the later novel remain vivid and attractive to their creator Even the --down to the yman near Pemberley, and that of Mary to one of Uncle Philips's clerks

In this work there seeise Here everything is coh brilliant, is yet always subordinate to the progress of the story; the plot is inevitable, and its turning-point (the first proposal of Darcy) occurs exactly when it ought; while all fear of a co is avoided by the insertion of the celebrated intervieeen Lady Catherine and Elizabeth It gives us also an excellent example of the way in which Jane Austen composed her stories We are always in the confidence of the heroine, who is hardly off the stage throughout the whole novel; we see the other characters with her eyes, even when they are persons--like Jane Bennet--e believe ourselves to be intimately acquainted

At the same time, such is the subtle irony of the author that we are quite aware of her intention to make us understand more of the heroine's state of uish between her conscious and unconscious thoughts Elizabeth has to change from hatred to love--real hatred and real love--in a volume and a half But it would wound her self-respect if she acknowledged to herself that the pace at which she e is constantly only half admitted Even near the end--when she says that, if Darcy is prevented fro her hand by the representations of Lady Catherine, she shall soon cease to regret him--we know that this is far from the truth: that her affection is really steadfast, and that she is only trying to disguise froht easily be found

On April 25, 1813, occurred the death of Eliza, Henry Austen's wife She had suffered fro and painful illness, and the end was 'a release at last' These circurief felt at her loss; but the event must have carried their minds back to early days at Steventon; and Jane was sure to reratitude the affection and attention which Eliza had bestowed upon her er cousin

Soon afterwards, Henry went down to Chawton; and on May 20 he drove Jane up to London in his curricle This was a short visit, and, owing to Henry's being in deep , no theatres were visited Jane went, however, to three picture-galleries--her mind still full of Bennets and Darcys

Sloane Street: [Thursday, May 20, 1813][246]

MY DEAR CassANDRA,--Before I say anything else, I clai-roo them with me I cannot say that I have yet been in any distress for money, but I chuse to have my due, as well as the Devil

How lucky ere in our weather yesterday! This wetmakes one more sensible of it We had no rain of any consequence The head of the curricle was put half up three or four tih they see's-back, and I fancied itso hard at Chawton as to make you feel for us much more than we deserved Three hours and a quarter took us to Guildford, where we staid barely two hours, and had only just ti, coton, and taking a little stroll afterwards Frohly of the situation of Guildford We wanted all our brothers and sisters to be standing with us in the bowling-green, and looking towards Horshaot theh I went into it rather because it was near than because it looked at all like a glove shop, and gave only four shi+llings for the and predicting that they cannot be good for anything, and their worth certainly remains to be proved; but I think they look very well We left Guildford at twenty minutes before twelve (I hope somebody cares for these minutiae), and were at Esher in about two hours eneral

Between Guildford and Ripley I thought it particularly pretty, also about Painshi+ll and everywhere else; and frorounds at Esher, which alked into before our dinner, the vieere beautiful I cannot say e did _not_ see, but I should think that there could not be a wood, or a land that was not spread out before us on one side or the other Clare to be sold: a Mr Ellis has it now It is a house that seems never to have prosperedAfter dinner alked forward to be overtaken at the coachman's tiston I fancy it was about half-past six e reached this house--a twelve hours'

business, and the horses did not appear lad to get to bed early, but a-room all to myself, and would not say 'thank you' for any coood I have contrived to pay reat while about it, and left me only a few minutes to sit with Charlotte Craven[247] She looks very well, and her hair is done up with an elegance to do credit to any education Heras ever She had heard froht at Chilton I saw nobody but Charlotte, which pleased -room, where she came to me, and the appearance of the room, so totally unschool-like, aancies

Monday [May 24, 1813]

I a to

I went the day before to Layton's,[248] as I proposed, and got own--seven yards at 6_s_ 6_d_ I then walked into No 10,[249] which is all dirt and confusion, but in a very pro of a new account, to reat a Gardens It is not thought a good collection, but I was very well pleased, particularly (pray tell fanny) with a sley,[250] excessively like her

I went in hopes of seeing one of her sister, but there was no Mrs Darcy Perhaps, however, I o to if we have time I have no chance of her in the collection of Sir Joshua Reynolds's paintings, which is noing in Pall Mall, and which we are also to visit

Mrs Bingley's is exactly herself--size, shaped face, features, and sweetness; there never was a greater likeness She is dressed in a white goith green ornaments, which convinces reen was a favourite colour with her I dare say Mrs D will be in yellow