n of Jane at this period may be quoted--that of Sir
Egerton Brydges, the author and genealogist. His sister had married Mr.
Lefroy, who in 1783 had become rector of Ashe (the living which George
Austen would have held, had it become vacant before Deane), in
succession to Dr. Russell. Sir Egerton, on his marriage in 1788, had for
two years rented Mr. Austen's parsonage at Deane in order to be near his
sister.

The nearest neighbours of the Lefroys were the
Austens at Steventon. I remember Jane Austen the
novelist as a little child. She was very intimate
with Mrs. Lefroy and much encouraged by her. Her
mother was a Miss Leigh, whose paternal
grandmother was sister to the first Duke of
Chandos. Mr. Austen was of a Kentish family, of
which several branches have been settled in the
Weald of Kent, and some are still remaining there.
When I knew Jane Austen I never suspected that she
was an authoress, but my eyes told me that she was
fair and handsome, slight and elegant, but with
cheeks a little too full.

Sir Egerton's description is the more pleasing of the two; but it must
be remembered that he was writing long after the time he mentions, and
that his recollections were no doubt somewhat mellowed by Jane Austen's
subsequent fame; whereas Philadelphia Walter's is an unvarnished
contemporary criticism--the impression made by Jane on a girl a few
years older than herself.

Fortunately, neither looks nor manners are stereotyped at the age of
twelve, so we need not be surprised to find that Eliza, when writing in
August 1791 in reference to a letter just received from Steventon,
talks of the two sisters as 'perfect Beauties,' who were of course
gaining 'hearts by dozens.' And again in November of the same year, she
writes that she hears 'they are two of the prettiest girls in
England.'[42] When due allowance is made for family exaggeration, we may
conclude that at eighteen and fifteen years of age both Cassandra and
Jane had their fair share of good looks.

Eliza's letters give us another glimpse of the sisters in 1792, and
indeed of the whole Steventon party. She writes on September 26:--

I have the real pleasure of informing you that our
dear Uncle and Aunt are both in perfect health.
The former looks uncommonly well, and in my
opinion his likeness t