should inevitably
fall a sacrifice to the arts of some fat woman who
would make me drunk with small beer.

In some way or other, Jane managed to reach Steventon, and at once set
to work on _First Impressions_. From that point the letters cease for
two years--namely, till October 1798. Several family events occurred
during the interval. In January 1797 came the wedding of James Austen
and Mary Lloyd. Owing to the friendship which had long existed between
the Austens and the Lloyds, this marriage gave great pleasure at
Steventon, and Eliza de Feuillide remarks on it as follows:--

James has chosen a second wife in the person of
Miss Mary Lloyd, who is not either rich or
handsome, but very sensible and good humoured. . . .
Jane seems much pleased with the match, and it is
natural she should, having long known and liked
the lady.

Not long after this happy event, the rectory at Steventon was plunged
into deep grief, for news came that Cassandra's intended husband,
Thomas Fowle, who was expected home from St. Domingo in a few weeks,
had died in February of yellow fever. Our chief informant is again Eliza
de Feuillide, who writes on May 3:--

This is a very severe stroke to the whole family,
and particularly to poor Cassandra, for whom I
feel more than I can express. Indeed I am most
sincerely grieved at this event, and the pain
which it must occasion our worthy relations. Jane
says that her sister behaves with a degree of
resolution and propriety which no common mind
could evince in so trying a situation.

His kinsman, Lord Craven, who had taken him out as chaplain to his
regiment, said afterwards that, had he known of his engagement, he would
not have allowed him to go to so dangerous a climate.

* * * * *

After such a blow as this, Jane was hardly likely to leave Cassandra,
and the absence of letters at this time is easily understood. In
November of this same year, Mrs. Austen, whose health was not good
determined to go to Bath with her daughters. The route from Steventon
was by Andover and Devizes, one night being usually spent at the latter
place. Mrs. Austen's brother, Mr. Leigh Perrot, was a regular visitor to
Bath, and there is every reason to suppose that Jane had already visited
the Leigh Perrots or the Coopers, or bo