To Cassandra, from Steventon: "Sunday November 25,
"My dear Sister
"I expected to have heard from you this morning, but no letter is come. I shall not take the trouble of announcing to you any more of Mary's children, if, instead of thanking me for the intelligence, you always sit down and write to James. I am sure nobody can desire your letters so much as I do, and I don't think anybody deserves them so well. Having now relieved my heart of a great deal of malevolence, I will proceed to tell you that Mary continues quite well, and my mother tolerably so. I saw the former on Friday, and though I had seen her comparatively hearty the Tuesday before, I was really amazed at the improvement which three days had made in her. She looked well, her spirits were perfectly good, and she spoke much more vigorously than Elizabeth did when we left Godmersham. I had only a glimpse at the child, who was asleep; but Miss Debary told me that his eyes were large, dark, and handsome." - Jane Austen, Sunday 25 November 1798
It had been seven days since Jane wrote letter number 11; but there was possibly a letter written 20-22 November 1798.
The beginning of this letter brought to mind a bit of Elizabeth Bennet Darcy's wit, a pretty good chastising! given tongue in cheek.
I hope you enjoyed your day today!
Terrie
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