Goodnestone in general; it is a great
relief to me to know that the shock did not make
any of them ill. But what a task was yours to
announce it! _Now_ I hope you are not overpowered
with letter-writing, as Henry[180] and John can
ease you of many of your correspondents.

* * * * *

Upon your letter to Dr. Goddard's[181] being
forwarded to them, Mary wrote to ask whether my
mother wished to have her grandsons sent to her.
We decided on their remaining where they were,
which I hope my brother will approve of. I am sure
he will do us the justice of believing that in
such a decision we sacrificed inclination to what
we thought best.

I shall write by the coach to-morrow to Mrs. J.
A., and to Edward, about their mourning, though
this day's post will probably bring directions to
them on that subject from yourselves. I shall
certainly make use of the opportunity of
addressing our nephew on the most serious of all
concerns, as I naturally did in my letter to him
before. The poor boys are, perhaps, more
comfortable at Steventon than they could be here,
but you will understand _my feelings_ with respect
to it.

To-morrow will be a dreadful day for you all. Mr.
Whitfield's[182] will be a severe duty. Glad shall
I be to hear that it is over.

That you are for ever in our thoughts you will not
doubt. I see your mournful party in my mind's eye
under every varying circumstance of the day; and
in the evening especially figure to myself its sad
gloom: the efforts to talk, the frequent summons
to melancholy orders and cares, and poor Edward,
restless in misery, going from one room to
another, and perhaps not seldom upstairs, to see
all that remains of his Elizabeth.

There must be a letter missing between October 15 and October 24,
containing Jane's first comment on the offer of a cottage at Chawton,
made by Edward Austen to his mother. In the midst of his grief--perhaps,
in consequence of his loss--he wished to bind his mother and sisters
more closely to himself. He gave them a choice between a house near
Godmersham, and one at Chawton; but