use full of company, frequent balls. You cannot
possibly resist so many temptations, especially
when I tell you your old friend James is returned
from France and is to be of the acting party.

But Phila still stood out, and Eliza attacked her once more on November
23, begging her to come for a fortnight to Steventon, provided she could
bring herself to act, 'for my Aunt Austen declares "she has not room for
any _idle young people_."'

We hear no more news of these theatricals, but it is probable that there
was a change in the selection of the plays, for there is extant a
prologue by James Austen to _The Wonder_,[48] acted at Steventon,
December 26 and 28, 1787, as well as an epilogue 'spoken by a Lady in
the character of Violante.' There is also a prologue to _The
Chances_,[49] acted at Steventon, January 1788.

The last Steventon performances of which we have any knowledge took
place in January 1790, when a farce called _The Sultan_[50] was acted.
The leading lady on this last occasion was Miss Cooper, who spoke the
epilogue in the character of Roxalana, Henry Austen playing the
title-role. On the same occasion Townley's farce, _High Life below
Stairs_, was also given.

Of Jane's own part in these performances there is no record, for she was
only just fourteen when the last took place. But even if she took no
more share than Fanny Price, she must have acquired a considerable
acquaintance with the language of the theatre--knowledge that she was to
turn to good account in _Mansfield Park_. She was an early observer, and
it might reasonably be supposed that some of the incidents and feelings
which are so vividly painted in the _Mansfield Park_ theatricals are due
to her recollections of these entertainments.

The talent and liveliness which she would show, if ever she had an
opportunity of acting herself, may be imagined. The late Sir William
Heathcote is said to have remembered being with her at a Twelfth Night
party when he was a little boy, on which occasion she, having drawn the
part of Mrs. Candour, acted it with appreciation and spirit.

FOOTNOTES:

[33] W. R. O'Byrne's _Naval Biographical Dictionary_, 1849.

[34] Pp. 16-20.

[35] We again make use of the words of the _Memoir_ (pp. 15-17) in the
description of the family party, &c.

[36] We are told that Jane was one of the least exclusive of the family.

[37] _Memoir_, pp. 22, 23.

[38] The carriage was given up in 179