inly set
John and Lucy going.

There are six bedchambers at Chawton; Henry wrote
to my mother the other day, and luckily mentioned
the number, which is just what we wanted to be
assured of. He speaks also of garrets for store
places, one of which she immediately planned
fitting up for Edward's man servant; and now
perhaps it must be for our own; for she is already
quite reconciled to our keeping one. The
difficulty of doing without one had been thought
of before. His name shall be Robert, if you
please.

* * * * *

Yes, the Stoneleigh business is concluded, but it
was not till yesterday that my mother was
regularly informed of it, though the news had
reached us on Monday evening by way of Steventon.

* * * * *

Our brother[189] we may perhaps see in the course
of a few days, and we mean to take the opportunity
of his help to go one night to the play. Martha
ought to see the inside of the theatre once while
she lives in Southampton, and I think she will
hardly wish to take a second view.

* * * * *

How could you have a wet day on Thursday? With us
it was a prince of days, the most delightful we
have had for weeks; soft, bright, with a brisk
wind from the south-west; everybody was out and
talking of spring, and Martha and I did not know
how to turn back. On Friday evening we had some
very blowing weather--from 6 to 9, I think we
never heard it worse, even here. And one night we
had so much rain that it forced its way again into
the store closet, and though the evil was
comparatively slight and the mischief nothing, I
had some employment the next day in drying
parcels, &c. I have now moved still more out of
the way.

* * * * *

Adieu! remember me affectionately to everybody,
and believe me,

Ever yours,
J. A.

The home at Chawton was now looked upon as a certainty; though none of
its future inhabitants in