e he
did overtake us we were very near Kingston. I fancy it was about half-
past six when we reached this house--a twelve hours' business, and the
horses did not appear more than reasonably tired. I was very tired
too, and glad to get to bed early, but am quite well to-day. I am
very snug in the front drawing-room all to myself, and would not say
"thank you" for any company but you. The quietness of it does me
good. I have contrived to pay my two visits, though the weather made
me a great while about it, and left me only a few minutes to sit with
Charlotte Craven. {110} She looks very well, and her hair is done up
with an elegance to do credit to any education. Her manners are as
unaffected and pleasing as ever. She had heard from her mother to-
day. Mrs. Craven spends another fortnight at Chilton. I saw nobody
but Charlotte, which pleased me best. I was shewn upstairs into a
drawing-room, where she came to me, and the appearance of the room, so
totally unschool-like, amused me very much; it was full of modern
elegancies.

'Yours very affectly.,
'J. A.'

The next letter, written in the following year, contains an account of
another journey to London, with her brother Henry, and reading with him
the manuscript of 'Mansfield Park':--

'Henrietta Street, Wednesday, March 2 (1814).

'MY DEAR CASSANDRA,

'You were wrong in thinking of us at Guildford last night: we were at
Cobham. On reaching G. we found that John and the horses were gone
on. We therefore did no more than we had done at Farnham--sit in the
carriage while fresh horses were put in, and proceeded directly to
Cobham, which we reached by seven, and about eight were sitting down
to a very nice roast fowl, &c. We had altogether a very good journey,
and everything at Cobham was comfortable. I could not pay Mr.
Harrington! That was the only alas! of the business. I shall
therefore return his bill, and my mother's 2_l_., that you may try
your luck. We did not begin reading till Bentley Green. Henry's
approbation is hitherto even equal to my wishes. He says it is
different from the other two, but does not appear to think it at all
inferior. He has only married Mrs. R. I am afraid he has gone
through the most entertaining part. He took to Lady B. and Mrs. N.
most kindly, and gives great praise to the drawing of the characters.
He unde