m happy to tell you that Mr. Papillon will soon
make his offer, probably next Monday, as he
returns on Saturday. His _intention_ can no longer
be doubtful in the smallest degree, as he has
secured the refusal of the house which Mr.
Baverstock at present occupies in Chawton, and is
to vacate soon, which is of course intended for
Mrs. Elizabeth Papillon.

Adieu, Amiable! I hope Caroline behaves well to
you.

Yours affec^{ly},
J. AUSTEN.
J. E. Austen, Esq.

The same bright tone pervades the following letter to Alethea Bigg, from
which one of the remarks quoted above, as to the improvement of her
health, is taken.

Chawton: January 24, 1817.

MY DEAR ALETHEA,--I think it time there should be
a little writing between us, though I believe the
epistolary debt is on _your_ side, and I hope this
will find all the Streatham party well, neither
carried away by the flood, nor rheumatic through
the damps. Such mild weather is, you know,
delightful to _us_, and though we have a great
many ponds, and a fine running stream through the
meadows on the other side of the road, it is
nothing but what beautifies us and does to talk
of. . . . _I_ have certainly gained strength through
the winter and am not far from being well; and I
think I understand my own case now so much better
than I did, as to be able by care to keep off any
serious return of illness. I am more and more
convinced that _bile_ is at the bottom of all I
have suffered, which makes it easy to know how to
treat myself. You . . . will be glad to hear thus
much of me, I am sure. . . . We have just had a few
days' visit from Edward, who brought us a good
account of his father, and the very circumstance
of his coming at all, of his father's being able
to spare him, is itself a good account. . . . He
grows still, and still improves in appearance, at
least in the estimation of his aunts, who love him
better and better, as they see the sweet temper
and warm affections of the boy conf