To Cassandra, from Rowling, "Friday-Your Letter & one from Henry are just come, and the contents of both accord with my Scheme more than I had dared expect-In one particular I could wish it otherwise, for Henry is very indifferent indeed-. You must not expect us quite so early however as wednesday the 20th-on that day se'night according to our present plan we may be with You. Frank had never any idea of going away before Monday the 26th. I shall write to Miss Pearson immediately & press her returning with us, which Henry thinks very likely, & particularly eligible.
[End of p. 4; next paragraph written upside down at top of first page]
"Till we know whether She accompanies us or not, we can say nothing in reply to my Father's kind offer-. As to the mode of our travelling to Town, I want to go in a Stage Coach, but Frank will not let me." - Jane Austen, Thursday 15-Friday 16 September 1796
Se'night or sennight is an abbreviation for the phrase seven nights or a week.
It is so sweet that Frank seems to be having such a good time, hunting, turning wood, walking to Crixhall Rough...
It seems as though Jane is enjoying herself also with all the characters she has encountered, but she has been at Rowling since late August and maybe she is ready to go home. Her comment about going home on a stage coach may be a joke. If she means by herself it would be considered unacceptable for a lady to travel by stage coach by herself, remember Catherine Morland in Northanger Abby?
Henry had become engaged to Miss Mary Pearson early in 1796. She was the daughter of Captain Sir Richard Pearson who was one of the officers of the Hospital for the Seamen at Greenwich where the militia were stationed. He had previously proposed to his cousin Eliza de Feuillide in 1795. She had kindly turned him down as there did not seem to be any hard feelings.
Henry and Mary's engagement ended sometime within the next few months. This is what cousin Eliza wrote on 7 November 1796 to another cousin, Phylly Walter, after seeing Henry in town, "Our Cousin Henry Austen has been in Town he looks thin & ill - I hear his late intended is a most intolerable Flirt, and reckoned to give herself great Airs - the person who mentioned this to me says She is a pretty wicked looking Girl with bright Black Eyes which pierce thro' & thro'. No wonder the poor young Man's heart could not withstand them."
And we all know Henry and Eliza married 31 December 1797.
Jane's opinion of Mary Pearson is coming up in the next letter!
Much later on we will find out that the Pearson family is the only family in Southampton the Austen's could not visit. I guess the Pearson's held a grudge. One account is that the breakup was mutual and another that she called it off, either way, why would the Pearson's still be angry years later? Only questions, no answers; that is the trouble with history.
I hope you enjoy your day today!
Terrie
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.