on any tricks of speech; there are no
catch-words, and every one speaks practically the same excellent
English. Besides this, _Emma_ also gives a very good instance of the
author's habit of building up her characters almost entirely without
formal description, and leaving analysis to her readers.

Her custom of following her creations outside the printed pages enables
us to say that the word swept aside unread by Jane Fairfax was 'pardon';
and that the Knightleys' exclusion from Donwell was ended by the death
of Mr. Woodhouse in two years' time. According to a less well-known
tradition, Jane Fairfax survived her elevation only nine or ten years.
Whether the John Knightleys afterwards settled at Hartfield, and whether
Frank Churchill married again, may be legitimate subjects for
speculation.[297]

Meanwhile, _Mansfield Park_ was selling well, and the idea of a second
edition began to be mooted. Writing from Chawton to her niece Fanny on
another subject (November 18, 1814), she tells her that the first
edition is all sold, and adds:--

Your Uncle Henry is rather wanting me to come to
town to settle about a second edition, but as I
could not very conveniently leave home now, I have
written him my will and pleasure, and, unless he
still urges it, shall not go. I am very greedy,
and want to make the most of it, but as you are
much above caring about money I shall not plague
you with any particulars. The pleasures of vanity
are more within your comprehension, and you will
enter into mine at receiving the _praise_ which
every now and then comes to me through some
channel or other.

She did, however, leave home; and our next extract is from a letter
written to Fanny from 23 Hans Place, and dated November 30:--

Thank you, but it is not yet settled whether I
_do_ hazard a second edition. We are to see
Egerton to-day, when it will probably be
determined. People are more ready to borrow and
praise than to buy, which I cannot wonder at; but
though I like praise as well as anybody, I like
what Edward calls 'Pewter' too.

Apparently, Egerton did not fancy taking the risk; for there was no
second edition until 1816, when it appeared from the publishing house of
Murray.

Jane's stay in London was a short one; but it included a visit to he