idware--Edward Cooper's living in
Staffordshire; but the curtain drops on them once more, and is not
raised again until Jane is writing from Southampton on January 7, 1807.
Owing to the gap in the letters, we have no means of knowing why the
Austens selected Southampton as a home; nor are we told what Jane
herself thought of the place. At any rate, it was a change from Bath,
and she preferred it to Canterbury, which, from its nearness to
Godmersham, would have been another very suitable place of residence.
Southampton was in her old county, and within fairly easy reach of her
old home; and probably one reason for choosing the neighbourhood of a
naval centre was, that it enabled them to join forces with Frank Austen
and his newly married wife: but we should doubt whether Jane ever felt
really at home during her two or three years' residence there, or took
much to the society of the place. No doubt the partnership with the
Frank Austens and with Martha made it possible for the party to command
better quarters, and to live in greater comfort than would have been
within reach of the slender means of the Austens by themselves; and when
Jane's letters begin again it is pretty clear that the party, though
still in lodgings,[161] were getting ready to take possession in March
of their house in Castle Square. They were living in a very quiet way,
not caring to add to their acquaintance more than was necessary.
Cassandra was at this time on a visit to Godmersham, and Martha Lloyd
was also away. The Austens were near enough to Steventon to be visited
occasionally by James Austen and his wife; and between their own
acquaintance, and Frank's friends in the service, they had what they
wanted in the way of society.

Southampton: Wednesday [January 7, 1807].

Of your visit there [to Canterbury] I must now
speak 'incessantly'; it surprises, but pleases me
more, and I consider it as a very just and
honourable distinction of you, and not less to the
credit of Mrs. Knight. I have no doubt of your
spending your time with her most pleasantly in
quiet and rational conversation, and am so far
from thinking her expectations of you will be
deceived, that my only fear is of your being so
agreeable, so much to her taste, as to make her
wish to keep you with her for ever. If that should
be the case, we must