We afterwards walked together for an hour on the Cobb;
she is very converseable in a common way; I do not perceive wit or
genius, but she has sense and some degree of taste, and her manners
are very engaging. She seems to like people rather too easily.

'Yours affectly,
'J. A.'

Letter from Jane Austen to her sister Cassandra at Ibthorp, alluding to
the sudden death of Mrs. Lloyd at that place:--

'25 Gay Street (Bath), Monday,

April 8, 1805.

'MY DEAR CASSANDRA,--Here is a day for you. Did Bath or Ibthorp ever
see such an 8th of April? It is March and April together; the glare
of the one and the warmth of the other. We do nothing but walk about.
As far as your means will admit, I hope you profit by such weather
too. I dare say you are already the better for change of place. We
were out again last night. Miss Irvine invited us, when I met her in
the Crescent, to drink tea with them, but I rather declined it, having
no idea that my mother would be disposed for another evening visit
there so soon; but when I gave her the message, I found her very well
inclined to go; and accordingly, on leaving Chapel, we walked to
Lansdown. This morning we have been to see Miss Chamberlaine look hot
on horseback. Seven years and four months ago we went to the same
riding-house to see Miss Lefroy's performance! {75a} What a different
set are we now moving in! But seven years, I suppose, are enough to
change every pore of one's skin and every feeling of one's mind. We
did not walk long in the Crescent yesterday. It was hot and not
crowded enough; so we went into the field, and passed close by S. T.
and Miss S. {75b} again. I have not yet seen her face, but neither
her dress nor air have anything of the dash or stylishness which the
Browns talked of; quite the contrary; indeed, her dress is not even
smart, and her appearance very quiet. Miss Irvine says she is never
speaking a word. Poor wretch; I am afraid she is _en penitence_. Here
has been that excellent Mrs. Coulthart calling, while my mother was
out, and I was believed to be so. I always respected her, as a good-
hearted friendly woman. And the Browns have been here; I find their
affidavits on the table. The "Ambuscade" reached Gibraltar on the 9th
of March, and found all well; so say the papers. We have had no
letters from anybody, but we expect to hear