as to the professional man, or the private gentleman. I
will tell you always how far I am able to carry my plans into
execution, and you will give me what encouragement and assistance you
can. I wonder whether you like Mrs Everett as well as I like Mr
Gardiner. He is a most kind friend to me on the whole: I say `on the
whole,' because there is the drawback of a fault of temper, which will
occasionally try my patience; but this is all. I should not have
mentioned it, except that I wish you to know every particular of my
situation, and that, I am sure, what I say goes no further, at least
where _character_ is concerned. Mr Gardiner makes a point of
speaking to me every day, and seems to like to call me by my surname,
doubtless because it was my father's. One day he called me Alfred
Forsyth: he begged my pardon, and said he had been used to that name.
He has asked me to dine with him next Sunday. This is very kind of
him, I am sure.

"Now, Jane, be sure you tell me every thing about yourself, and the
other dear girls, and Alfred. Every little trifling particular is
pleasant to read about. I am very glad that Isabella's drawing
prospers so well: I wish she may be able to send me a drawing soon; it
would be quite a treasure to me. May I not see some of her
hand-writing in the next letter? There is only one thing more I wish
particularly to say. I entreat you, my dearest sister, not to work
too hard or too anxiously. Take care of your health and spirits as
you value ours. Give my best love to all at home, and my affectionate
respects to Mr and Mrs Barker, if they will accept them. I am,
dearest Jane,--

"Your most affectionate,--

"Charles Forsyth.

"Remember me kindly to Hannah."

_From Jane to Charles_.

"Exeter, September 5th.

"Dear Charles,--

"We all thank you for your long letter. It has made us, on the whole,
easy and comfortable about you. As long as you are as active and
enterprising as you are now, you will be happy, for I believe that the
grand secret of happiness consists in having a good pursuit, which can
be followed with some success. To ensure this success, the pursuit
must be rational; and I assure you, that so far from shaking my head
at your hopes of doing `grand things,' I think your hopes are very
rational, provided that by `grand things,' you and I mean the same. I
suppose you mean no more than th