chawton, tuesday (june 13).
my dearest cassandra,—fanny takes my mother to alton this morning, which gives me an opportunity of sending you a few lines without any other trouble than that of writing them.
this is a delightful day in the country, and i hope not much too hot for town. well, you had a good journey, i trust, and all that, and not rain enough to spoil your bonnet. it appeared so likely to be a wet evening that i went up to the gt. house between three and four, and dawdled away an hour very comfortably, though edwd. was not very brisk. the air was clearer in the evening, and he was better. we all five walked together into the kitchen garden and along the gosport road, and they drank tea with us.
you will be glad to hear that g. turner has another situation, something in the cow line, near rumsey, and he wishes to move immediately, which is not likely to be inconvenient to anybody.
the new nurseryman at alton comes this morning to value the crops in the garden.
the only letter to-day is from mrs. cooke to me. they do not leave home till july, and want me to come to them, according to my promise.[253] and, after considering everything, i have resolved on going. my companions promote it. i will not go, however, till after edward is gone, that he may feel he has a somebody to give memorandums to, to the last. i must give up all help from his carriage, of course. and, at any rate, it must be such an excess of expense that i have quite made up my mind to it, and do not mean to care.
i have been thinking of triggs and the chair, you may be sure, but i know it will end in posting. they will meet me at guildford.
in addition to their standing claims on me they admire "mansfield park" exceedingly. mr. cooke says "it is the most sensible novel he ever read," and the manner in which i treat the clergy delights them very much. altogether, i must go, and i want you to join me there when your visit in henrietta st. is over. put this into your capacious head.
take care of yourself, and do not be trampled to death in running after the emperor. the report in alton yesterday was that they would certainly travel this road either to or from portsmouth. i long to know what this bow of the prince's will produce.
i saw mrs. andrews yesterday. mrs. browning had seen her before. she is very glad to send an elizabeth.
miss benn continues the same. mr. curtis,[254] however, saw her yesterday, and said her hand was going on as well as possible. accept our best love.
yours very affectionately,
j. austen.
miss austen, 10 henrietta street,
by favor of mr. gray.
