*

And now, my dear Fanny, having written so much on
one side of the question, I shall turn round and
entreat you not to commit yourself farther, and
not to think of accepting him unless you really do
like him. Anything is to be preferred or endured
rather than marrying without affection; and if his
deficiencies of manner, &c. &c., strike you more
than all his good qualities, if you continue to
think strongly of them, give him up at once.
Things are now in such a state that you must
resolve upon one or the other--either to allow him
to go on as he has done, or whenever you are
together behave with a coldness which may convince
him that he has been deceiving himself. I have no
doubt of his suffering a good deal for a time--a
great deal when he feels that he must give you up;
but it is no creed of mine, as you must be well
aware, that such sort of disappointments kill
anybody.

Yours very affectionately,
JANE AUSTEN.

23 Hans Place: Wednesday [November 30, 1814].

Now, my dearest Fanny, I will begin a subject
which comes in very naturally. You frighten me out
of my wits by your reference. Your affection gives
me the highest pleasure, but indeed you must not
let anything depend on my opinion; your own
feelings, and none but your own, should determine
such an important point. So far, however, as
answering your question, I have no scruple. I am
perfectly convinced that your present feelings,
supposing you were to marry _now_, would be
sufficient for his happiness; but when I think how
very, very far it is from a '_now_,' and take
everything that _may be_ into consideration, I
dare not say 'Determine to accept him'; the risk
is too great for _you_, unless your own sentiments
prompt it.

You will think me perverse perhaps; in my last
letter I was urging everything in his favour, and
now I am inclining the other way, but I cannot
help it; I am at present more impressed with the
possible evil that may arise to _you_ from