, however.

I am yours ever,
J. A.

Next in order comes a letter to Martha Lloyd:--

Steventon: Wednesday evening [November 12, 1800].[112]

MY DEAR MARTHA,--I did not receive your note
yesterday till after Charlotte had left Deane, or
I would have sent my answer by her, instead of
being the means, as I now must be, of lessening
the elegance of your new dress for the Hurstbourne
ball by the value of 3_d._ You are very good in
wishing to see me at Ibthorp so soon, and I am
equally good in wishing to come to you. I believe
our merit in that respect is much upon a par, our
self-denial mutually strong. Having paid this
tribute of praise to the virtue of both, I shall
here have done with panegyric, and proceed to
plain matter of fact. In about a fortnight's time
I hope to be with you. I have two reasons for not
being able to come before. I wish so to arrange my
visit as to spend some days with you after your
mother's return. In the 1st place, that I may have
the pleasure of seeing her, and in the 2nd, that I
may have a better chance of bringing you back with
me. Your promise in my favour was not quite
absolute, but if your will is not perverse, you
and I will do all in our power to overcome your
scruples of conscience. I hope we shall meet next
week to talk all this over, till we have tired
ourselves with the very idea of my visit before my
visit begins. Our invitations for the 19th are
arrived, and very curiously are they worded.[113]
Mary mentioned to you yesterday poor Earle's
unfortunate accident, I dare say. He does not seem
to be going on very well. The two or three last
posts have brought less and less favourable
accounts of him. John Harwood has gone to Gosport
again to-day. We have two families of friends now
who are in a most anxious state; for though by a
note from Catherine this morning there seems now
to be a revival of hope at Manydown, its
continuance may be too reasonably doubted. Mr.
Heathcote, however, who has brok