t Cassandra walked to Wyards yesterday with
Mrs. Digweed. Anna has had a bad cold, and looks
pale. She has just weaned Julia.

Chawton: Sunday [March 23, 1817].

I am very much obliged to you, my dearest Fanny,
for sending me Mr. W.'s conversation; I had great
amusement in reading it, and I hope I am not
affronted, and do not think the worse of him for
having a brain so very different from mine; but my
strongest sensation of all is _astonishment_ at
your being able to press him on the subject so
perseveringly; and I agree with your papa, that it
was not fair. When he knows the truth he will be
uncomfortable.

You are the oddest creature! Nervous enough in
some respects, but in others perfectly without
nerves! Quite unrepulsable, hardened, and
impudent. Do not oblige him to read any more. Have
mercy on him, tell him the truth, and make him an
apology. He and I should not in the least agree,
of course, in our ideas of novels and heroines.
Pictures of perfection, as you know, make me sick
and wicked; but there is some very good sense in
what he says, and I particularly respect him for
wishing to think well of all young ladies; it
shows an amiable and a delicate mind. And he
deserves better treatment than to be obliged to
read any more of my works.

Do not be surprised at finding Uncle Henry
acquainted with my having another ready for
publication. I could not say No when he asked me,
but he knows nothing more of it. You will not like
it, so you need not be impatient. You may
_perhaps_ like the heroine, as she is almost too
good for me.[336]

* * * * *

Thank you for everything you tell me. I do not
feel worthy of it by anything that I can say in
return, but I assure you my pleasure in your
letters is quite as great as ever, and I am
interested and amused just as you could wish me.

The Papillons came back on Friday night, but I
have not seen them yet, as I do not venture to
church. I cannot hear, however, but that they are
the same Mr. P