but in fact he only asked me whether I were to be
in Sydney Gardens in the evening or not. There is
now something like an engagement between us and
the Phaeton, which to confess my frailty I have a
great desire to go out in; but whether it will
come to anything must remain with him. I really
believe he is very harmless; people do not seem
afraid of him here, and he gets groundsel for his
birds and all that. . . .

Yours affectionately,
J. A.

_Wednesday._--I am just returned from my airing in
the very bewitching Phaeton and four for which I
was prepared by a note from Mr. E., soon after
breakfast. We went to the top of Kingsdown, and
had a very pleasant drive. One pleasure succeeds
another rapidly. On my return I found your letter,
and a letter from Charles, on the table. The
contents of yours I suppose I need not repeat to
you; to thank you for it will be enough. I give
Charles great credit for remembering my uncle's
direction, and he seems rather surprised at it
himself. He has received L30 for his share of the
privateer, and expects L10 more, but of what avail
is it to take prizes if he lays out the produce in
presents to his sisters? He has been buying gold
chains and topaze crosses[127] for us--he must be
well scolded. The _Endymion_ has already received
orders for taking troops to Egypt--which I should
not like at all if I did not trust to Charles
being removed from her somehow or other before she
sails. He knows nothing of his own destination he
says--but desires me to write directly--as the
_Endymion_ will probably sail in three or four
days. He will receive my yesterday's letter
to-day, and I shall write again by this post to
thank and reproach him. We shall be unbearably
fine.

So began the five years' residence at Bath.

Cassandra and her father (the latter having been paying visits in Kent
and London) joined the others at the beginning of June; and from that
date till September 1804 there is little that can be said definitely
about Jane's life.

We know, how