th, at this still fashionable
resort, whose place was only gradually being usurped by Brighton. Owing
to the absence of contemporary letters our knowledge of her stay there
in 1797 is chiefly derived from reminiscences in later correspondence.
Thus in May 1799, when visiting Bath again, Jane remarks that it rained
almost all the way from Devizes; 'and our first view of Bath has been
just as gloomy as it was last November twelve-month.' We may therefore
imagine them 'entering Bath on a wet afternoon'--like Lady Russell, in
_Persuasion_--'and driving through the long course of streets . . . amidst
the dash of other carriages, the heavy rumble of carts and drays, the
bawling of newsmen, muffin-men and milkmen, and the ceaseless clink of
pattens.' The Austens probably stayed with the Perrots at their house,
No. 1 Paragon Buildings.

Writing in April 1805, Jane describes a visit to a riding-school, and
says: 'Seven years and four months ago we went to the same riding-house
to see Miss Lefroy's performance. What a different set are we now moving
in!' It would be interesting to know in what way the set differed,
whether in kind or only in the individuals composing it. In this earlier
visit Jane was likely to have seen plenty of company, as the Leigh
Perrots had a large acquaintance.[76] The Austens stayed at Bath into
December, for Elizabeth de Feuillide mentions, on December 11, that she
had heard very lately from Jane, 'who is still at Bath with her mother
and sister. Mr. Hampson, whom I saw yesterday . . . told me he had heard
Cassandra was going to be married, but Jane says not a word of it.' When
we think of Jane's silence, and still more of Cassandra's recent grief,
we may safely discredit this extremely improbable rumour.

On returning home for Christmas, they received a piece of news which,
even if it did not come entirely as a surprise, can hardly have given
unmixed pleasure. This was the engagement of Henry Austen to his cousin,
Eliza de Feuillide--his senior by some ten years. Intended originally
for the Church, Henry Austen had abandoned the idea of taking Orders,
and had joined the Oxford Militia as lieutenant, in 1793, becoming
adjutant and captain four years later. Though he was endowed with many
attractive gifts there was a certain infirmity of purpose in his
character that was hardly likely to be remedied by a marriage to his
very pleasure-loving cousin.

In default of Eliza's letter on the occasion to her u