lbans_ in April, and went to the Cape of Good Hope
on convoying duty. He was back by June 30.

On Cassandra's return, the two sisters must have been together for a
considerable period; but till June 1808 we know little that is definite
about them, except that in September 1807, together with their mother,
they paid a visit to Chawton House--Edward Austen's Hampshire
residence.[171]

During these years, Charles Austen was long engaged in the unpleasant
and unprofitable duty of enforcing the right of search on the Atlantic
seaboard of America. Hardly anything is said in the extant letters of
his marriage to Fanny Palmer, daughter of the Attorney-General of
Bermuda, which took place in 1807.

The month of June 1808 found Jane staying with her brother Henry in
Brompton[172]; but we have no details of her stay beyond the fact that
she watched some of her acquaintance going to Court on the King's
birthday. On June 14 she left London with her brother James, his wife
and two children, on a visit to Godmersham.

Godmersham: Wednesday [June 15, 1808].

MY DEAR CASSANDRA,--Where shall I begin? Which of
all my important nothings shall I tell you first?
At half after seven yesterday morning Henry saw us
into our own carriage, and we drove away from the
Bath Hotel; which, by-the-bye, had been found most
uncomfortable quarters--very dirty, very noisy,
and very ill-provided. James began his journey by
the coach at five. Our first eight miles were hot;
Deptford Hill brought to my mind our hot journey
into Kent fourteen years ago; but after Blackheath
we suffered nothing, and as the day advanced it
grew quite cool. At Dartford, which we reached
within the two hours and three-quarters, we went
to the Bull, the same inn at which we breakfasted
in that said journey, and on the present occasion
had about the same bad butter.

At half-past ten we were again off, and,
travelling on without any adventure reached
Sittingbourne by three. Daniel was watching for
us at the door of the 'George,' and I was
acknowledged very kindly by Mr. and Mrs. Marshall,
to the latter of whom I devoted my conversation,
while Mary went out to buy some gloves. A few
minutes, of course, did for Sitt