was probably occupied with the
preparation of _Persuasion_ for the press; and, on the whole, we should
gather from the evidence before us that the earlier part of the winter
saw one of those fallacious instances of temporary improvement which so
often deceive nurses and patients alike, in cases of internal
complaints. 'I have certainly gained strength through the winter,' she
says, on January 24, 1817. On the 23rd: 'I feel myself stronger than I
was half a year ago'; and it was in this spirit of hopefulness that she
had written the following lively letter to Edward Austen, when he had
left Winchester and was about to enter on the career of an Oxford
undergraduate.

Chawton: Monday [December 16, 1816].

MY DEAR EDWARD,--One reason for my writing to you
now is, that I may have the pleasure of directing
to you _Esq^{re.}_ I give you joy of having left
Winchester. Now you may own how miserable you were
there; now it will gradually all come out, your
crimes and your miseries--how often you went up by
the Mail to London and threw away fifty guineas at
a tavern, and how often you were on the point of
hanging yourself, restrained only, as some
ill-natured aspersion upon poor old Winton has it,
by the want of a tree within some miles of the
city. Charles Knight and his companions passed
through Chawton about 9 this morning; later than
it used to be. Uncle Henry and I had a glimpse of
his handsome face, looking all health and good
humour. I wonder when you will come and see us. I
know what I rather speculate upon, but shall say
nothing. We think uncle Henry in excellent looks.
Look at him this moment, and think so too, if you
have not done it before; and we have the great
comfort of seeing decided improvement in uncle
Charles, both as to health, spirits, and
appearance. And they are each of them so
agreeable in their different way, and harmonise so
well, that their visit is thorough enjoyment.
Uncle Henry writes very superior sermons. You and
I must try to get hold of one or two, and put them
into our novels: it would be a fine help to a
volume; and we could make our heroine read it
aloud of a Sunday ev