ey ought and easily might, I cannot help liking
them and even loving them, which I hope may be not
wholly inexcusable in their and your affectionate
Aunt,

J. AUSTEN.

The Pianoforte often talks of you; in various
keys, tunes, and expressions, I allow--but be it
Lesson or Country Dance, Sonata or Waltz, _you_
are really its constant theme. I wish you could
come and see us, as easily as Edward can.

J. A.

Wednesday night. [1817.]

You send me great news indeed, my dear Caroline,
about Mr. Digweed, Mr. Trimmer, and a Grand
Pianoforte. I wish it had been a small one, as
then you might have pretended that Mr. D.'s rooms
were too damp to be fit for it, and offered to
take charge of it at the Parsonage. . . .

* * * * *

I look forward to the four new chapters with
pleasure.--But how can you like Frederick better
than Edgar? You have some eccentric tastes
however, I know, as to Heroes and Heroines.
Goodbye.

Yours affectionately,
J. AUSTEN.

Chawton: Wednesday, March 26 [1817].

MY DEAR CAROLINE,--Pray make no apologies for
writing to me often, I am always very happy to
hear from you. . . .

I think you very much improved in your writing,
and in the way to write a very pretty hand. I wish
you could practise your fingering oftener. Would
not it be a good plan for you to go and live
entirely at Mr. Wm. Digweed's? He could not desire
any other remuneration than the pleasure of
hearing you practise.

I like Frederick and Caroline better than I did,
but must still prefer Edgar and Julia. Julia is a
warm-hearted, ingenuous, natural girl, which I
like her for; but I know the word _natural_ is no
recommendation to you. . . .

How very well Edward is looking! You can have
nobody in your neighbourhood to vie with him at
all, except Mr. Portal. I have taken one