ote
immediately, asking if it really was Miss Austen's wish that the
dedication should be placed on the title-page, for we find Jane writing
again the same day:--

DEAR SIR,--I am very much obliged by yours, and
very happy to feel everything arranged to our
mutual satisfaction. As to my direction about the
title-page, it was arising from my ignorance only,
and from my having never noticed the proper place
for a dedication. I thank you for putting me
right. Any deviation from what is usually done in
such cases is the last thing I should wish for. I
feel happy in having a friend to save me from the
ill effect of my own blunder.

On December 11, Jane resumed her correspondence with Mr. Clarke:--

DEAR SIR,--My _Emma_ is now so near publication
that I feel it right to assure you of my not
having forgotten your kind recommendation of an
early copy for Carlton House, and that I have Mr.
Murray's promise of its being sent to His Royal
Highness, under cover to you, three days previous
to the work being really out. I must make use of
this opportunity to thank you, dear Sir, for the
very high praise you bestow on my other novels. I
am too vain to wish to convince you that you have
praised them beyond their merit. My greatest
anxiety at present is that this fourth work should
not disgrace what was good in the others. But on
this point I will do myself the justice to
declare that, whatever may be my wishes for its
success, I am very strongly haunted by the idea
that to those readers who have preferred _Pride
and Prejudice_ it will appear inferior in wit; and
to those who have preferred _Mansfield Park_, very
inferior in good sense. Such as it is, however, I
hope you will do me the favour of accepting a
copy. Mr. Murray will have directions for sending
one. I am quite honoured by your thinking me
capable of drawing such a clergyman as you gave
the sketch of in your note of November 16th. But I
assure you I am _not_. The comic part of the
character I might be equal to, but not the good,
the enthusiastic, the literary. Such a man's
conversatio