e Fanny and Mr. Haden, in two chairs (I
_believe_, at least, they had _two_ chairs),
talking together uninterruptedly. Fancy the scene!
And what is to be fancied next? Why, that Mr. H.
dines here again to-morrow. To-day we are to have
Mr. Barlow. Mr. H. is reading _Mansfield Park_ for
the first time, and prefers it to _P. and P._

* * * * *

Fanny has heard all that I have said to you about
herself and Mr. H. Thank you very much for the
sight of dearest Charles's letter to yourself. How
pleasantly and how naturally he writes! and how
perfect a picture of his disposition and feelings
his style conveys! Poor dear fellow! Not a
present! I have a great mind to send him all the
twelve copies which were to have been dispersed
among my near connections, beginning with the P.
R. and ending with Countess Morley. Adieu.

Yours affectionately,
J. AUSTEN.
Miss Austen.

Saturday [December 2, 1815].

MY DEAR CASSANDRA,--Henry came back yesterday, and
might have returned the day before if he had known
as much in time.

* * * * *

I had the comfort of a few lines on Wednesday
morning from Henry himself, just after your letter
was gone, giving so good an account of his
feelings as made me perfectly easy. He met with
the utmost care and attention at Hanwell, spent
his two days there very quietly and pleasantly,
and, being certainly in no respect the worse for
going, we may believe that he must be better, as
he is quite sure of being himself. To make his
return a complete gala Mr. Haden was secured for
dinner. I need not say that our evening was
agreeable.

But you seem to be under a mistake as to Mr. H.
You call him an apothecary. He is no apothecary;
he has never been an apothecary; there is not an
apothecary in this neighbourhood--the only
inconvenience of the situation perhaps--but so it
is; we have not a medical man within reach. He is
a Haden, nothing b