of my
aunt, and was old enough to understand something of her value, I will
here attempt a description of her person, mind, and habits. In person
she was very attractive; her figure was rather tall and slender, her step
light and firm, and her whole appearance expressive of health and
animation. In complexion she was a clear brunette with a rich colour;
she had full round cheeks, with mouth and nose small and well formed,
bright hazel eyes, and brown hair forming natural curls close round her
face. If not so regularly handsome as her sister, yet her countenance
had a peculiar charm of its own to the eyes of most beholders. At the
time of which I am now writing, she never was seen, either morning or
evening, without a cap; I believe that she and her sister were generally
thought to have taken to the garb of middle age earlier than their years
or their looks required; and that, though remarkably neat in their dress
as in all their ways, they were scarcely sufficiently regardful of the
fashionable, or the becoming.

She was not highly accomplished according to the present standard. Her
sister drew well, and it is from a drawing of hers that the likeness
prefixed to this volume has been taken. Jane herself was fond of music,
and had a sweet voice, both in singing and in conversation; in her youth
she had received some instruction on the pianoforte; and at Chawton she
practised daily, chiefly before breakfast. I believe she did so partly
that she might not disturb the rest of the party who were less fond of
music. In the evening she would sometimes sing, to her own
accompaniment, some simple old songs, the words and airs of which, now
never heard, still linger in my memory.

She read French with facility, and knew something of Italian. In those
days German was no more thought of than Hindostanee, as part of a lady's
education. In history she followed the old guides--Goldsmith, Hume, and
Robertson. Critical enquiry into the usually received statements of the
old historians was scarcely begun. The history of the early kings of
Rome had not yet been dissolved into legend. Historic characters lay
before the reader's eyes in broad light or shade, not much broken up by
details. The virtues of King Henry VIII. were yet undiscovered, nor had
much light been thrown on the inconsistencies of Queen Elizabeth; the one
was held to be an unmitigated tyrant, and an embodied Blue Beard; the
other a perfect model of wisdom an