he revival of
mixed gardens.

[16] Her daughters seem to have looked upon this publicity of useful
needlework with some suspicion. See letter from Lyme, September 14, 1804
(p. 179).

[17] These letters, hitherto unpublished, are inserted by the kind
permission of Mr. J. G. Nicholson of Castlefield House, Sturton by
Scawby, Lincolnshire.

[18] Son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter.

[19] _Life and Times of Mrs. Sherwood_, edited by F. J. Harvey Darton,
p. 124.

[20] _Records of a Girlhood_, vol. i. p. 99. By Frances Ann Kemble.
London, 1878.

[21] There are, we think, but two references to school in her surviving
correspondence--namely, in a letter to Cassandra, dated September 1,
1796, where she remarks of her sister's letter: 'I could die of laughter
at it, as they used to say at school'; and in another, dated May 20,
1813, where she describes a room at a school as being 'totally
unschool-like.'

[22] In the same novel, _Persuasion_, Henrietta and Louisa Musgrove have
brought back 'the usual stock of accomplishments' from a school at
Exeter.

[23] See next chapter.

[24] It was no uncommon occurrence for the richer folk to hand on their
newspaper to their neighbours. Thus we find the Austens, while at
Steventon, apparently getting theirs from Mr. Holder at Ashe (p. 148);
and, later, getting Mr. Pinckard's paper at Lyme (p. 180). Much in the
same way Sir John Middleton in _Sense and Sensibility_ would not be
denied the satisfaction of sending the Dashwoods his newspaper every
day.

CHAPTER III

WARREN HASTINGS AND THE HANCOCKS

1752-1794

The title of this chapter may seem at first sight to remove it far from
the life of Jane Austen; but Mrs. Hancock (who had been Philadelphia
Austen) was her aunt, and Eliza Hancock not only a cousin but also a
close friend; and both were always welcome visitors at Steventon. The
varying fortunes of these ladies would therefore be an object of
constant thought and discussion at the Rectory, and Jane had an early
opportunity of becoming interested in the affairs both of India and of
France.

How the acquaintance of the family with Warren Hastings began, we cannot
exactly say; but it certainly lasted long, and resulted on their side in
an admiration for his genius and his kindness, and a readiness to defend
him when he was attacked.

In one of Jane's early unpublished sketches occurs the following
passage:--

The eldest daughter had been obliged to accept