thursday (june 23).

dearest cassandra,—i received your pretty letter while the children were drinking tea with us, as mr. louch was so obliging as to walk over with it. your good account of everybody made us very happy.

i heard yesterday from frank. when he began his letter he hoped to be here on monday, but before it was ended he had been told that the naval review would not take place till friday, which would probably occasion him some delay, as he cannot get some necessary business of his own attended to while portsmouth is in such a bustle. i hope fanny has seen the emperor, and then i may fairly wish them all away. i go to-morrow, and hope for some delays and adventures.

my mother's wood is brought in, but, by some mistake, no bavins. she must therefore buy some.

[255]

henry at white's! oh, what a henry! i do not know what to wish as to miss b., so i will hold my tongue and my wishes.

sackree and the children set off yesterday, and have not been returned back upon us. they were all very well the evening before. we had handsome presents from the gt. house yesterday,—a ham and the four leeches. sackree has left some shirts of her master's at the school, which, finished or unfinished, she begs to have sent by henry and wm. mr. hinton is expected home soon, which is a good thing for the shirts.

we have called upon miss dusantoy and miss papillon, and been very pretty. miss d. has a great idea of being fanny price,—she and her youngest sister together, who is named fanny.

miss benn has drank tea with the prowtings, and, i believe, comes to us this evening. she has still a swelling about the forefinger and a little discharge, and does not seem to be on the point of a perfect cure, but her spirits are good, and she will be most happy, i believe, to accept any invitation. the clements are gone to petersfield to look.

only think of the marquis of granby being dead. i hope, if it please heaven there should be another son, they will have better sponsors and less parade.

i certainly do not wish that henry should think[256] again of getting me to town. i would rather return straight from bookham; but if he really does propose it, i cannot say no to what will be so kindly intended. it could be but for a few days, however, as my mother would be quite disappointed by my exceeding the fortnight which i now talk of as the outside—at least, we could not both remain longer away comfortably.

the middle of july is martha's time, as far as she has any time. she has left it to mrs. craven to fix the day. i wish she could get her money paid, for i fear her going at all depends upon that.

instead of bath the deans dundases have taken a house at clifton—richmond terrace—and she is as glad of the change as even you and i should be, or almost. she will now be able to go on from berks and visit them without any fears from heat.

this post has brought me a letter from miss sharpe. poor thing! she has been suffering indeed, but is now in a comparative state of comfort. she is at sir w. p.'s, in yorkshire, with the children, and there is no appearance of her quitting them. of course we lose the pleasure of seeing her here. she writes highly of sir wm. i do so want him to marry her. there is a dow. lady p. presiding there to make it all right. the man is the same; but she does not mention[257] what he is by profession or trade. she does not think lady p. was privy to his scheme on her, but, on being in his power, yielded. oh, sir wm.! sir wm.! how i will love you if you will love miss sharpe!

mrs. driver, etc., are off by collier, but so near being too late that she had not time to call and leave the keys herself. i have them, however. i suppose one is the key of the linen-press, but i do not know what to guess the other.

the coach was stopped at the blacksmith's, and they came running down with triggs and browning, and trunks, and birdcages. quite amusing.

my mother desires her love, and hopes to hear from you.

yours very affectionately,

j. austen.

frank and mary are to have mary goodchild to help as under till they can get a cook. she is delighted to go.

best love at streatham.

miss austen, henrietta st.

by favor of mr. gray.