spected it until February 1809, when Cassandra
visited it on her way back from Godmersham.

It was some years since they had lived in the country, and their future
home was likely to be very quiet; so, as Jane recovered her spirits, she
determined to crowd into her remaining months at Southampton as much
society and amusement as possible. She went to two of the Southampton
assemblies--her last recorded appearances as an active ball-goer.

Castle Square: Friday [December 9, 1808].

MY DEAR CASSANDRA,--Soon after I had closed my
last letter to you we were visited by Mrs. Dickens
and her sister-in-law, Mrs. Bertie, the wife of a
lately-made Admiral. Mrs. F. A., I believe, was
their first object, but they put up with us very
kindly, and Mrs. D. finding in Miss Lloyd a friend
of Mrs. Dundas, had another motive for the
acquaintance. She seems a really agreeable
woman--that is, her manners are gentle, and she
knows a great many of our connections in West
Kent. Mrs. Bertie lives in the Polygon, and was
out when we returned her visit, which are _her_
two virtues.

A larger circle of acquaintance, and an increase
of amusement, is quite in character with our
approaching removal. Yes, I mean to go to as many
balls as possible, that I may have a good bargain.
Everybody is very much concerned at our going
away, and everybody is acquainted with Chawton,
and speaks of it as a remarkably pretty village,
and everybody knows the house we describe, but
nobody fixes on the right.

I am very much obliged to Mrs. Knight for such a
proof of the interest she takes in me, and she may
depend upon it that I _will_ marry Mr.
Papillon,[190] whatever may be his reluctance or
my own. I owe her much more than such a trifling
sacrifice.

Our ball was rather more amusing than I expected.
Martha liked it very much, and I did not gape till
the last quarter of an hour. It was past nine
before we were sent for, and not twelve when we
returned. The room was tolerably full, and there

# were, perhaps, thirty couple of dancers. The
melancholy part was, to see so many dozen young