en married from Steventon Rectory, and
had been, both before and after that event, so frequent a visitor there
that her death must have been severely felt by the Austens--especially
by the daughters of the family, her friends and contemporaries.

FOOTNOTES:

[70] _Juniper Hall_, p. 223.

[71] In a memorandum written by Cassandra.

[72] Other portions of these two letters are quoted in Chapter VI.

[73] Cassandra was now staying with the Fowles at Kintbury, and 'Mary'
was no doubt Eliza Fowle's sister, Mary Lloyd; not yet engaged to James
Austen.

[74] Edward Bridges was brother, and Harriet and Louisa were sisters, of
Elizabeth Austen; Lady Bridges being their mother. Harriet was
afterwards married to the son of Archbishop Moore.

[75] A playful inversion on Jane's part.

[76] Mrs. Lybbe Powys records in her diary under April 26, 1799: 'To a
party at Mr. Leigh Perrot's; eight tables, ninety people' (_Passages
from the Diaries of Mrs. Philip Lybbe Powys_, 1756-1808).

[77] _Gentleman's Magazine_, vol. lxxi. p. 965; see also p. 1049.

CHAPTER VIII

GODMERSHAM AND STEVENTON

1798-1799

Some change after this shock must have been desirable; and at the end of
the same month Mr. and Mrs. Austen, with Cassandra and Jane, started on
a visit to the Edward Austens--no longer at Rowling but at Godmersham,
which, by the generosity of Mrs. Knight, was now become their residence.
Edward would naturally wish for a visit from his parents and sisters in
his new and beautiful home. We know very little of Jane's doings there,
except that she attended a ball at Ashford; but, on her parting from
Cassandra (who was left behind) and returning to Steventon with her
father and mother, we find ourselves fortunately in the company of the
letters once more. Mrs. Austen was at this time in poor health, and Jane
evidently felt the responsibility of taking charge of her in Cassandra's
absence.

'Bull and George,' Dartford: Wednesday [October 24, 1798].

MY DEAR CASSANDRA,--You have already heard from
Daniel, I conclude, in what excellent time we
reached and quitted Sittingbourne, and how very
well my mother bore her journey thither. I am now
able to send you a continuation of the same good
account of her. She was very little fatigued on
her arrival at this place, has been refreshed by a
comfortable dinner, and now seems quite stout.