Part 51 (1/2)

MY DEAREST fanny,--Doubly dear to me now for her dear sake e have lost She did love you et the proofs of love you gave her during her illness in writing those kind, as would have dictated so different a style Take the only reward I can give you in the assurance that your benevolent purpose _was_ answered; you _did_ contribute to her enjoyment

Even your last letter afforded pleasure I ave it to her; she opened it and read it herself, afterwards she gave it me to read, and then talked to me a little and not uncheerfully of its contents, but there was then a languor about her which prevented her taking the sa she had been used to do

Since Tuesday evening, when her coe, she slept ht-and-forty hours she was more asleep than awake Her looks altered and she fell away, but I perceived no h I was then hopeless of a recovery, I had no suspicion how rapidly

I _have_ lost a treasure, such a sister, such a friend as never can have been surpassed She was the sun of ilder of every pleasure, the soother of every sorrow; I had not a thought concealed from her, and it is as if I had lost a part of myself I loved her only too well--not better than she deserved, but I am conscious that ent of others; and I can acknowledge, eneral principle, the justice of the Hand which has struck this blow

You know me too well to be at all afraid that I should suffer s; I am perfectly conscious of the extent of my irreparable loss, but I a but what a short tie of air, will remove I thank God that I was enabled to attend her to the last, and ast my lect of her co about half an hour before she beca that half-hour was her struggle, poor soul! She said she could not tell us what she suffered, though she complained of little fixed pain When I asked her if there was anything she wanted, her ansas she wanted nothing but death, and sorant me patience, pray foras she spoke she was intelligible

I hope I do not break your heart, my dearest fanny, by these particulars; Is I could not write so to anybody else; indeed you are the only person I have written to at all, excepting your grandmamma--it was to her, not your Uncle Charles, I wrote on Friday

Immediately after dinner on Thursday I went into the town to do an errand which your dear aunt was anxious about I returned about a quarter before six and found her recovering froive me a minute account of her seizure, and when the clock struck six she was talking quietly to ain with the sas she could not describe; but Mr

Lyford had been sent for, had applied soive her ease, and she was in a state of quiet insensibility by seven o'clock at the latest From that time till half-past four, when she ceased to breathe, she scarcely ratitude to the Alht motion of the head with every breath remained till almost the last I sat close to her with a pillow inher head, which was aln my place to Mrs J A for two hours and a half, when I took it again, and in about an hour more she breathed her last

I was able to close her eyes ratification toconvulsed which gave the idea of pain in her look; on the contrary, but for the continual ave one the idea of a beautiful statue, and even now, in her coffin, there is such a sweet, serene air over her countenance as is quite pleasant to contemplate

This day, ence, and I know you suffer severely, but I likewise know that you will apply to the fountain-head for consolation, and that our merciful God is never deaf to such prayers as you will offer

The last sad cere; her dear remains are to be deposited in the Cathedral It is a satisfaction toshe admired so much; her precious soul, I presume to hope, reposes in a far superior mansion May mine one day be re-united to it!

Your dear papa, your Uncle Henry, and Frank, and Edwd Austen instead of his father, will attend I hope they will none of thely from their pious exertions The ceremony ins at that hour, so that we shall be at ho to keep us here afterwards

Your Uncle Jaoes to Chawton to-iven every necessary direction here, and I think his coain on Tuesday evening

I did not think to have written a long letter when I began, but I have found the e you more pleasure than pain Relad she is with you now), and give my best love to Lizzie and all the others

I am, my dearest fanny, Most affectionately yours, Cass ELIZ AUSTEN

I have said nothing about those at Chawton, because I a these sad days, Anna Lefroy had written to her grando to her Mrs Austen answered:--

I thank you sincerely for all your kind expressions, and your offer I aood deal of affliction, but trust God will support h it in aover us; I had reason to think it at a distance, and was not quite without hope that she ht in part recover After a few months' illness she e blood-vessel had given way I hope her sufferings were not severe--they were not long I had a letter froreat affliction, but bears it like a Christian Dear Jane is to be buried in the Cathedral, I believe on Thursday--in which case Cassandra will coo hoht as follows:--

Chawton: Tuesday [July 29, 1817][368]

MY DEAREST fanny,--I have just read your letter for the third time, and thank you most sincerely for every kind expression to myself, and still more warmly for your praises of her who I believe was better known to you than to any hu of the sort could have beento me than the el is conscious of what passes here, and is not above all earthly feelings, shesoof _you_ in al resemblance in your characters; in your inti affection, you were counterparts

Thursday was not so dreadful a day to ined There was so much necessary to be done that there was no ti was conducted with the greatest tranquillity, and but that I was determined I would see the last, and therefore was upon the listen, I should not have knohen they left the house I watched the little th of the street; and when it turned froht, and I had lost her for ever, even then I was not overpowered, nor soof it Never was hu more sincerely mourned by those who attended her remains than was this dear creature May the sorrohich she is parted with on earth be a prognostic of the joy hich she is hailed in heaven!

I continue very tolerably well--much better than any one could have supposed possible, because I certainly have had considerable fatigue of body as well as anguish of mind for rateful to the Alrandmamma, too, is much better than when I came home

I did not think your dear papa appeared unwell, and I understand that he seemed much more comfortable after his return from Winchester than he had done before I need not tell you that he was a great coh of the kindness I have received froet out of doors a good deal and am able to employ myself Of course those employments suit me best which leave me most at leisure to think of her I have lost, and I do think of her in every variety of circumstance In our happy hours of confidential intercourse, in the cheerful family party which she so ornamented, in her sick room, on her death-bed, and as (I hope) an inhabitant of heaven Oh, if I may one day be re-united to her there! I know the tirossed by her idea, but I do not like to think of it If I think of her less as on earth, God grant that Iheaven, and never cease my humble endeavours (when it shall please God) to join her there