*

I am exceedingly pleased that you can say what you
do, after having gone through the whole work, and
Fanny's praise is very gratifying. My hopes were
tolerably strong of _her_, but nothing like a
certainty. Her liking Darcy and Elizabeth is
enough. She might hate all the others if she
would. I have her opinion under her own hand this
morning, but your transcript of it, which I read
first, was not, and is not, the less acceptable.
To _me_ it is of course all praise, but the more
exact truth which she sends _you_ is good
enough. . . .

* * * * *

I have been applied to for information as to the
oath taken in former times of Bell, Book, and
Candle, but have none to give. Perhaps you may be
able to learn something of its origin and meaning
at Manydown. Ladies who read those enormous great
stupid thick quarto volumes which one always sees
in the breakfast parlour there must be acquainted
with everything in the world. I detest a quarto.
Capt. Pasley's book is too good for their Society.
They will not understand a man who condenses his
thoughts into an octavo.

* * * * *

Miss Benn dined here on Friday. I have not seen
her since--there is still work for one evening
more. I know nothing of the P.'s. The C.'s are at
home, and are reduced to read. They have got Miss
Edgeworth. I have disposed of Mrs. Grant for the
second fortnight to Mrs. D. It can make no
difference to _her_ which of the twenty-six
fortnights in the year the three volumes lay in
her house.

Yours very affectionately,
J. AUSTEN.
Miss Austen, Manydown--by favour of Mr. Gray.

As she read and re-read _Pride and Prejudice_, Jane must have become
aware (if she did not know it before) that she had advanced far beyond
_Sense and Sensibility_. Indeed, the earlier work seems to fade out of
her mind, so far as allusions to its principal characters are concerned;
while those of the later novel remain vivid and attractive to their
creator. Even the minor characters were real to her; and she f