Fragment of a novel written

By Jane Austen, January-March 1817 : Now firstâ€¦

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Title: Fragment of a novel written by Jane Austen, January-March 1817
Now first printed from the manuscript

Author: Jane Austen

Editor: R. W. Chapman

Release date: August 12, 2024 [eBook #74233]

Language: English

Original publication: United Kingdom: Oxford University Press, 1925

Credits: Emmanuel Ackerman, Neil Mercer and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Books project.)

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRAGMENT OF A NOVEL WRITTEN BY JANE AUSTEN, JANUARY-MARCH 1817 ***

Transcriber's Note

Italic font is indicated by _underscores_.

Superscripted letters are indicated thus: M^r, M^{rs}.

FRAGMENT
OF A
NOVEL

By JANE AUSTEN

_Second Impression 1925_

FRAGMENT
OF A
NOVEL

WRITTEN BY
JANE AUSTEN

January-March 1817

[Illustration]

NOW FIRST PRINTED FROM
THE MANUSCRIPT

[Illustration]

OXFORD
AT THE CLARENDON PRESS
1925

Oxford University Press

_London_ _Edinburgh_ _Glasgow_ _Copenhagen_
_New York_ _Toronto_ _Melbourne_ _Cape Town_
_Bombay_ _Calcutta_ _Madras_ _Shanghai_

Humphrey Milford Publisher to the University

Printed in England

PREFACE

The fragment of a novel, written by Jane Austen in the first three
months of the year in which she died, has no name; but it has long
been known to members of her family as _Sanditon_.

The manuscript passed into the possession of Jane Austen’s
niece Anna (Mrs. Ben Lefroy); and it was known to Mrs. Lefroy’s
half-brother, James Edward Austen-Leigh, the author of the _Memoir
of Jane Austen_ first published in 1870. In the second edition
(1871) Mr. Austen-Leigh added the cancelled chapter of _Persuasion_,
the fragment called _The Watsons_, and _Lady Susan_, and in his
concluding chapter gave an account of ‘The Last Work’.

Such an unfinished fragment cannot be presented to the public;
but I am persuaded that some of Jane Austen’s admirers will be
glad to learn something about the latest creations which were
forming themselves in her mind; and therefore, as some of the
principal characters were already sketched in with a vigorous
hand, I will try to give an idea of them, illustrated by extracts
from the work.

In the account which follows, the fragment is described in some
detail; the _verbatim_ quotations amount to perhaps twenty pages of
this edition. The present owner[1] of the manuscript has reached
the conclusion that, since so much has long been before the public,
it is right that the whole should no longer be withheld.

[Footnote 1: A grand-daughter of Anna Lefroy.]

Some explanation may be thought necessary of the way in which the
fragment is printed. It approximates to the manner of 1817, and
the result is somewhat less in bulk than one of the three volumes
in which Mr. Egerton or Mr. Murray would doubtless have issued the
work if it had been completed for publication. The printer, however,
would have made certain departures from his copy: he would have
expanded the contractions; he would have broken up the chapters
into paragraphs; and he would, in a greater or less degree, have
regularized the spelling and the punctuation. It has seemed best not
to do this in 1925, but to print the author’s manuscript as nearly
as possible in the last form it attained. It may be thought pedantic
to reproduce irregularities which the author would not have wished
to retain; but it seemed more important to avoid another danger.
To have smoothed out the manuscript into a specious semblance of
finality would have been to prejudice, in some degree, the question
how far it did, in fact, represent the author’s final intention.
This edition, printed as it is, is open to no such objection. It
is, for critical purposes, virtually a facsimile of all that Miss
Austen wrote and did not erase.

It will be seen from the textual notes, printed at the end of the
volume, that the manuscript contains a very large number of erasures
and interlineations. It is so neat, and so uniformly spaced, that
it is almost everywhere possible to distinguish what was first
written from what was added, or substituted, between the lines. These
corrections are not such as could have resulted from subsequent
revision of a fair copy previously made. In very many places the
author has changed her mind _currente calamo_; has begun a sentence
in one form and finished it in another. The number and nature of
such changes create a presumption, at least, that we are dealing
with a first draft.

The manuscript consists of three quires. The first and second, which
are sewn together, are of 16 and 24 leaves respectively, measuring
7½ in. × 4¹¹⁄₁₆ in. The watermark, which occurs several times in
both quires, is KENT 1812.

The first quire contains Chapters 1-3. The third chapter appears to
end, on f. 16^v, with an incomplete sentence; but the concluding
words, _that Loveliness was complete_, were written at the foot of
f. 1^r. The second quire contains Chapters 4-8 and part of Chapter
9.

The third quire (marked 2 on the first page) is of 40 leaves, 6⅜
in. × 4 in. It bears a large ornamental watermark, and also the
name JOSEPH COLES and the date 1815. Folios 21-40, i. e. the latter
half of the quire, are blank; a fact which suggests that no part
of the manuscript is lost. This quire contains the remainder of
Chapter 9 (beginning with the words _with a thousand regrets_--p.
117 of this edition) and Chapters 10-12.

The dates added by Miss Austen are:

(1) at the top of the first page of the first quire, _Jan: 27.-1817_

(2) at the top of the first page of the third quire, _March 1^{st}_

(3) at the end of the last sentence (the last page of the third
quire), _March 18_.

Part of the second quire was originally written in pencil, and
afterwards inked over. The passage so written is that printed on
pp. 99-101 of this edition (from _cried Lady D--_ to _so seriously
that Charlotte_). The author of the _Memoir_ writes, on this point:

The chief part of this manuscript is written in her usual firm
and neat hand, but some of the latter pages seem to have been
first traced in pencil, probably when she was too weak to sit
long at her desk, and written over in ink afterwards.

But the manuscript as such does not bear out this implication of
a progressive decline. The place at which pencil was used is in
fact not much later than the middle; and the latter part of the
manuscript shows no change in legibility or in accuracy.

FRAGMENT
OF A
NOVEL

CHAPTER 1.

A Gentleman & Lady travelling from
Tunbridge towards that part of the
Sussex Coast which lies between Hastings
& E. Bourne, being induced by
Business to quit the high road, &
attempt a very rough Lane, were overturned
in toiling up it’s long ascent
half rock, half sand.--The accident
happened just beyond the only Gentleman’s
House near the Lane--a House,
which their Driver on being first required
to take that direction, had conceived
to be necessarily their object,
& had with most unwilling Looks been
constrained to pass by--. He had

( 2 )

grumbled & shaken his shoulders so
much indeed, and pitied & cut his
Horses so sharply, that he might have
been open to the suspicion of overturning
them on purpose (especially as
the Carriage was not his Masters own)
if the road had not indisputably become
considerably worse than before,
as soon as the premises of the said
House were left behind--expressing
with a most intelligent portentous
countenance that beyond it no wheels
but cart wheels could safely proceed.
The severity of the fall was broken by
their slow pace & the narrowness of
the Lane, & the Gentleman having
scrambled out & helped out his companion,
they neither of them at first
felt more than shaken & bruised. But
the Gentleman had in the course of the
extrication sprained his foot--& soon
becoming sensible of it, was obliged in

( 3 )

a few moments to cut short, both his
remonstrance to the Driver & his congratulations
to his wife & himself--&
sit down on the bank, unable to stand.
--“There is something wrong here,
said he--putting his hand to his ancle--
But never mind, my Dear--(looking up
at her with a smile)--It c^d not have
happened, you know, in a better place.--Good
out of Evil--. The very thing
perhaps to be wished for. We shall
soon get releif.-- _There_, I fancy lies
my cure”--pointing to the neat-looking
end of a Cottage, which was seen
romantically situated among wood on
a high Eminence at some little Distance
--“Does not _that_ promise to be
the very place?”--His wife fervently
hoped it was--but stood, terrified &
anxious, neither able to do or suggest
anything--& receiving her first real
comfort from the sight of several persons

( 4 )

now coming to their assistance.
The accident had been discerned from
a Hayfield adjoining the House they
had passed--& the persons who approached,
were a well-looking Hale,
Gentlemanlike Man, of middle age, the
Proprietor of the Place, who happened
to be among his Haymakers at the
time, & three or four of the ablest of
them summoned to attend their Master
--to say nothing of all the rest of the
field, Men, Women & Children--not
very far off.--M^r Heywood, such was
the name of the said Proprietor, advanced
with a very civil salutation--
much concern for the accident--some
surprise at any body’s attempting that
road in a Carriage--& ready offers of
assistance. His courtesies were received
with Goodbreeding & gratitude & while
one or two of the Men lent their help
to the Driver in getting the Carriage

( 5 )

upright again, the Travellor said--
“You are extremely obliging Sir, &
I take you at your word.--The injury
to my Leg is I dare say very trifling,
but it is always best in these cases to
have a surgeon’s opinion without loss
of time; and as the road does not seem
at present in a favourable state for
my getting up to his house myself, I will
thank you to send off one of these good
People for the Surgeon.” “The Surgeon
Sir!--replied M^r Heywood--I am
afraid you will find no surgeon at hand
here, but I dare say we shall do very
well without him.”--“Nay Sir, if _he_ is
not in the way, his Partner will do
just as well--or rather better--. I w^d
rather see his Partner indeed--I would
prefer the attendance of his Partner.
--One of these good people can be with
him in three minutes I am sure. I need
not ask whether I see the House;

( 6 )

(looking towards the Cottage) for excepting
your own, we have passed none
in this place, which can be the abode
of a Gentleman.”--M^r H. looked very
much astonished--& replied--“What
Sir! are you expecting to find a Surgeon
in that Cottage?--We have neither
Surgeon nor Partner in the Parish I
assure you.”--“Excuse me Sir--replied
the other. I am sorry to have the
appearance of contradicting you--but
though from the extent of the Parish
or some other cause you may not be
aware of the fact;--stay--Can I be
mistaken in the place?--Am I not in
Willingden?--Is not this Willingden?”
“Yes Sir, this is certainly Willingden.”
“Then Sir, I can bring proof of your
having a Surgeon in the Parish--
whether you may know it or not. Here
Sir--(taking out his Pocket book--)
if you will do me the favour of casting

( 7 )

your eye over these advertisements,
which I cut out myself from the Morning
Post & the Kentish Gazette, only
yesterday morn^g in London--I think
you will be convinced that I am not
speaking at random. You will find it
an advertisement Sir, of the dissolution
of a Partnership in the Medical Line--
in your own Parish--extensive Business
--undeniable Character--respectable
references--wishing to form a
separate Establishment--You will find
it at full length Sir”--offering him the
two little oblong extracts.--“Sir--said
M^r Heywood with a good humoured
smile--if you were to shew me all the
Newspapers that are printed in one
week throughout the Kingdom, you
w^d not persuade me of there being a
Surgeon in Willingden,--for having
lived here ever since I was born,
Man & Boy 57 years, I think I must

( 8 )

have _known_ of such a person, at least
I may venture to say that he has not
_much Business_--To be sure, if Gentlemen
were to be often attempting this
Lane in Post-chaises, it might not be
a bad speculation for a Surgeon to get
a House at the top of the Hill.--But
as to that Cottage, I can assure you
Sir that it is in fact--(in spite of its
spruce air at this distance--) as indifferent
a double Tenement as any in
the Parish, and that my Shepherd lives
at one end, & three old women at the
other.” He took the peices of paper
as he spoke--& having looked them
over, added--“I beleive I can explain
it Sir.--Your mistake is in the place.--
There are two Willingdens in this
Country--& your advertisements refer
to the other--which is Great Willingden,
or Willingden Abbots, & lies 7
miles off, on the other side of Battel

( 9 )

--quite down in the Weald. And _we_
Sir--(speaking rather proudly) are not
in the Weald.”--“Not _down_ in the
Weald I am sure Sir, replied the
Traveller, pleasantly. It took us half
an hour to climb your Hill.--Well Sir
--I dare say it is as you say, & I have
made an abominably stupid Blunder.--
All done in a moment;--the advertisements
did not catch my eye till the last
half hour of our being in Town;--
when everything was in the hurry &
confusion which always attend a short
stay there--One is never able to
complete anything in the way of Business
you know till the Carriage is at
the door--and accordingly satisfying
myself with a breif enquiry, & finding
we were actually to pass within a mile
or two of a _Willingden_, I sought no
farther ... My Dear--(to his wife)
I am very sorry to have brought you

( 10 )

into this Scrape. But do not be alarmed
about my Leg. It gives me no pain
while I am quiet,--and as soon as these
good people have succeeded in setting
the Car^{ge} to rights & turning the
Horses round, the best thing we can
do will be to measure back our steps
into the Turnpike road & proceed to
Hailsham, & so Home, without attempting
anything farther.--Two hours take
us home, from Hailsham--and when
once at home, we have our remedy at
hand you know.--A little of our own
Bracing Sea air will soon set me on
my feet again.--Depend upon it my
Dear, it is exactly a case for the Sea.
Saline air & immersion will be the very
thing.--My sensations tell me so already.”
--In a most friendly manner
M^r Heywood here interposed, entreating
them not to think of proceeding
till the ancle had been examined, &

( 11 )

some refreshment taken, & very cordially
pressing them to make use of
his House for both purposes.--“We
are always well stocked, said he, with
all the common remedies for Sprains
& Bruises--& I will answer for the
pleasure it will give my Wife & daughters
to be of service to you & this
Lady in every way in their power.”--
A twinge or two, in trying to move his
foot disposed the Travellor to think
rather more as he had done at first of
the benefit of immediate assistance--
& consulting his wife in the few words
of “Well my Dear, I beleive it will be
better for us.”--turned again to M^r
H-- & said--“Before we accept your
Hospitality Sir,--& in order to do
away any unfavourable impression
which the sort of wild goose-chace you
find me in, may have given rise to--
allow me to tell you who we are. My

( 12 )

name is Parker.--M^r Parker of Sanditon;
--this Lady, my wife M^{rs} Parker.
--We are on our road home from
London;--_My_ name perhaps--tho’ I
am by no means the first of my Family,
holding Landed Property in the Parish
of Sanditon, may be unknown at this
distance from the Coast--but Sanditon
itself--everybody has heard of Sanditon,
--the favourite--for a young &
rising Bathing-place, certainly the
favourite spot of all that are to be
found along the coast of Sussex;--the
most favoured by Nature, & promising
to be the most chosen by Man.”--
“Yes--I have heard of Sanditon. replied
M^r H.--Every five years, one
hears of some new place or other
starting up by the Sea, & growing the
fashion.--How they can half of them
be filled, is the wonder! _Where_ People
can be found with Money or Time to

( 13 )

go to them!--Bad things for a Country;
--sure to raise the price of Provisions
& make the Poor good for nothing--as
I dare say you find, Sir.” “Not at
all Sir, not at all--cried M^r Parker
eagerly. Quite the contrary I assure
you.--A common idea--but a mistaken
one. It may apply to your
large, overgrown Places, like Brighton,
or Worthing, or East Bourne--but _not_
to a small village like Sanditon, precluded
by its size from experiencing
any of the evils of Civilization, while
the growth of the place, the Buildings,
the Nursery Grounds, the demand for
every thing, & the sure resort of the
very best Company, those regular,
steady, private Families of thorough
Gentility & Character, who are a blessing
everywhere, excite the industry of
the Poor and diffuse comfort & improvement
among them of every sort.--

( 14 )

No Sir, I assure you, Sanditon is not
a place----” “I do not mean to take
exceptions to _any_ place in particular
Sir, answered M^r H.--I only think our
Coast is too full of them altogether--
But had we not better try to get you”
----“Our Coast too full”--repeated
M^r P.--On that point perhaps we
may not totally disagree;--at least
there are _enough_. Our Coast is abundant
enough; it demands no more.--
Every body’s Taste & every body’s
finances may be suited--And those
good people who are trying to add
to the number, are in my opinion
excessively absurd, & must soon find
themselves the Dupes of their own
fallacious Calculations.--Such a place
as Sanditon Sir, I may say was
wanted, was called for.--Nature had
marked it out--had spoken in most
intelligible Characters--The finest,

( 15 )

purest Sea Breeze on the Coast--
acknowledged to be so--Excellent
Bathing--fine hard sand--Deep Water
10 yards from the Shore--no Mud--
no Weeds--no shiney rocks--Never
was there a place more palpably designed
by Nature for the resort of the
Invalid--the very Spot which Thousands
seemed in need of.--The most
desirable distance from London! One
complete, measured mile nearer than
East Bourne. Only conceive Sir, the
advantage of saving a whole Mile, in
a long Journey. But Brinshore Sir,
which I dare say you have in your
eye--the attempts of two or three
speculating People about Brinshore,
this last Year, to raise that paltry
Hamlet, lying, as it does between
a stagnant marsh, a bleak Moor &
the constant effluvia of a ridge
of putrifying sea weed, can end in

( 16 )

nothing but their own Disappointment.
What in the name of Common
Sense is to _recommend_ Brinshore?--
A most insalubrious Air--Roads proverbially
detestable--Water Brackish
beyond example, impossible to get a
good dish of Tea within 3 miles of the
place--& as for the Soil--it is so cold &
ungrateful that it can hardly be made
to yeild a Cabbage.--Depend upon it
Sir, that this is a faithful Description
of Brinshore--not in the smallest degree
exaggerated--& if you have heard it
differently spoken of----” “Sir, I
never heard it spoken of in my Life
before, said M^r Heywood. I did not
know there was such a place in the
World.”--“You did not!--There my
Dear--(turning with exultation to his
Wife)--you see how it is. So much
for the Celebrity of Brinshore!--This
Gentleman did not know there was

( 17 )

such a place in the World.--Why, in
truth Sir, I fancy we may apply to
Brinshore, that line of the Poet Cowper
in his description of the religious Cottager,
as opposed to Voltaire--“_She_,
never heard of half a mile from home.”
--“With all my Heart Sir--Apply any
Verses you like to it--But I want to
see something applied to your Leg--
& I am sure by your Lady’s countenance
that she is quite of my opinion
& thinks it a pity to lose any more
time--And here come my Girls to
speak for themselves & their Mother.
(two or three genteel looking young
Women followed by as many Maid
servants, were now seen issueing from
the House)--I began to wonder the
Bustle should not have reached _them_.--
A thing of this kind soon makes a Stir
in a lonely place like ours.--Now Sir,
let us see how you can be best conveyed

( 18 )

into the House.”--The young
Ladies approached & said every thing
that was proper to recommend their
Father’s offers; & in an unaffected
manner calculated to make the Strangers
easy--and as M^{rs} P-- was
exceedingly anxious for relief--and
her Husband by this time, not much
less disposed for it--a very few civil
scruples were enough--especially as the
Carriage being now set up, was discovered
to have received such Injury
on the fallen side as to be unfit for
present use.--M^r Parker was therefore
carried into the House, and his Carriage
wheeled off to a vacant Barn.--

( 19 )

CHAPTER 2.

The acquaintance, thus oddly begun,
was neither short nor unimportant.
For a whole fortnight the Travellors
were fixed at Willingden; Mr. P.’s
sprain proving too serious for him to
move sooner.--He had fallen into very
good hands. The Heywoods were a
thoroughly respectable family, & every
possible attention was paid in the
kindest & most unpretending manner,
to both Husband & wife. _He_ was
waited on & nursed, & _she_ cheered &
comforted with unremitting kindness--
and as every office of Hospitality &
friendliness was received as it ought--
as there was not more good will on one

( 20 )

side than Gratitude on the other--nor
any deficiency of generally pleasant
manners on either, they grew to like
each other in the course of that fortnight,
exceedingly well.--M^r Parker’s
Character & History were soon unfolded.
All that he understood of himself,
he readily told, for he was very
openhearted;--& where he might be
himself in the dark, his conversation
was still giving information, to such of
the Heywoods as could observe.--By
such he was perceived to be an Enthusiast;
--on the subject of Sanditon,
a complete Enthusiast.--Sanditon,--
the success of Sanditon as a small,
fashionable Bathing Place was the
object, for which he seemed to live.
A very few years ago, & it had been
a quiet Village of no pretensions; but
some natural advantages in its position
& some accidental circumstances having

( 21 )

suggested to himself, & the other
principal Land Holder, the probability
of it’s becoming a profitable Speculation,
they had engaged in it, & planned
& built, & praised & puffed, & raised
it to a something of young Renown--
and M^r. Parker could now think of very
little besides.--The Facts, which in
more direct communication, he laid
before them were that he was about
5 & 30--had been married,--very
happily married 7 years--& had 4 sweet
Children at home;--that he was of
a respectable Family, & easy though
not large fortune;--no Profession--
succeeding as eldest son to the Property
which 2 or 3 Generations had
been holding & accumulating before
him;--that he had 2 Brothers & 2
Sisters--all single & all independant--
the eldest of the two former indeed, by
collateral Inheritance, quite as well

( 22 )

provided for as himself.--His object in
quitting the high road, to hunt for an
advertising Surgeon, was also plainly
stated;--it had not proceeded from
any intention of spraining his ancle
or doing himself any other Injury
for the good of such Surgeon--nor (as
M^r H. had been apt to suppose) from
any design of entering into Partnership
with him--; it was merely in consequence
of a wish to establish some
medical Man at Sanditon, which the
nature of the Advertisement induced
him to expect to accomplish in Willingden.
--He was convinced that the advantage
of a medical Man at hand w^d
very materially promote the rise &
prosperity of the Place--w^d in fact
tend to bring a prodigious influx;--
nothing else was wanting. He had
_strong_ reason to beleive that _one_ family
had been deterred last year from trying

( 23 )

Sanditon on that account--& probably
very many more--and his own Sisters
who were sad Invalids, & whom he was
very anxious to get to Sanditon this
Summer, could hardly be expected to
hazard themselves in a place where
they could not have immediate medical
advice.--Upon the whole, M^r P. was
evidently an amiable, family-man, fond
of Wife, Child^n, Brothers & Sisters--
& generally kind-hearted;--Liberal,
gentlemanlike, easy to please;--of a
sanguine turn of mind, with more
Imagination than Judgement. And
M^{rs} P. was as evidently a gentle,
amiable, sweet tempered Woman, the
properest wife in the World for a Man
of strong Understanding, but not of
capacity to supply the cooler reflection
which her own Husband sometimes
needed, & so entirely waiting to be
guided on every occasion, that whether

( 24 )

he were risking his Fortune or spraining
his Ancle, she remained equally useless.
--Sanditon was a second Wife &
4 Children to him--hardly less Dear--
& certainly more engrossing.--He could
talk of it for ever.--It had indeed the
highest claims;--not only those of
Birthplace, Property, and Home,--it
was his Mine, his Lottery, his Speculation
& his Hobby Horse; his Occupation
his Hope & his Futurity.--He
was extremely desirous of drawing his
good friends at Willingden thither;
and his endeavours in the cause, were
as grateful & disinterested, as they
were warm.--He wanted to secure the
promise of a visit--to get as many of
the Family as his own house w^d contain,
to follow him to Sanditon as soon
as possible--and healthy as they all
undeniably were--foresaw that every
one of them w^d be benefited by the

( 25 )

sea.--He held it indeed as certain, that
no person c^d be really well, no person,
(however upheld for the present by
fortuitous aids of exercise & spirits in
a semblance of Health) could be really
in a state of secure & permanent Health
without spending at least 6 weeks by
the Sea every year.--The Sea air & Sea
Bathing together were nearly infallible,
one or the other of them being a match
for every Disorder, of the Stomach,
the Lungs or the Blood; They were
anti-spasmodic, anti-pulmonary, anti-sceptic,
anti-bilious & anti-rheumatic.
Nobody could catch cold by the Sea,
Nobody wanted appetite by the Sea,
Nobody wanted Spirits, Nobody wanted
Strength.--They were healing, softing,
relaxing--fortifying & bracing--seemingly
just as was wanted--sometimes
one, sometimes the other.--If the Sea
breeze failed, the Sea-Bath was the

( 26 )

certain corrective;--& where Bathing
disagreed, the Sea Breeze alone was
evidently designed by Nature for the
cure.--His eloquence however could
not prevail. M^r & M^{rs} H-- never
left home. Marrying early & having
a very numerous Family, their movements
had been long limitted to one
small circle; & they were older in
Habits than in Age.--Excepting two
Journeys to London in the year, to
receive his Dividends, M^r H. went no
farther than his feet or his well-tried
old Horse could carry him, and M^{rs}
Heywood’s Adventurings were only
now & then to visit her Neighbours,
in the old Coach which had been new
when they married & fresh lined on
their eldest son’s coming of age 10
years ago.--They had very pretty
Property--enough, had their family
been of reasonable Limits to have

( 27 )

allowed them a very gentlemanlike
share of Luxuries & Change--enough
for them to have indulged in a new
Carriage & better roads, an occasional
month at Tunbridge Wells, & symptoms
of the Gout and a Winter at
Bath;--but the maintenance, Education
& fitting out of 14 Children demanded
a very quiet, settled, careful
course of Life--& obliged them to be
stationary & healthy at Willingden.
What Prudence had at first enjoined,
was now rendered pleasant by Habit.
They never left home, & they had
a gratification in saying so.--But very
far from wishing their Children to do
the same, they were glad to promote
_their_ getting out into the World, as
much as possible. _They_ staid at home,
that their Children _might_ get out;--
and while making that home extremely
comfortable, welcomed every change

( 28 )

from it which could give useful connections
or respectable acquaintance
to Sons or Daughters. When M^r &
M^{rs} Parker therefore ceased from soliciting
a family-visit, and bounded their
veiws to carrying back one Daughter
with them, no difficulties were started.
It was general pleasure & consent.--
Their invitation was to Miss Charlotte
Heywood, a very pleasing young woman
of two and twenty, the eldest of the
Daughters at home, & the one, who
under her Mother’s directions had been
particularly useful & obliging to them;
who had attended them most, & knew
them best.--Charlotte was to go,--
with excellent health, to bathe & be
better if she could--to receive every
possible pleasure which Sanditon could
be made to supply by the gratitude of
those she went with--& to buy new
Parasols, new Gloves, & new Broches,

( 29 )

for her sisters & herself at the Library,
which M^r P. was anxiously wishing to
support.--All that M^r Heywood himself
could be persuaded to promise was,
that he would send everyone to Sanditon,
who asked his advice, & that
nothing should ever induce him (as far
the future could be answered for)
to spend even 5 shillings at Brinshore.--

( 31 )

CHAPTER 3.

Every Neighbourhood should have a
great Lady.--The great Lady of Sanditon,
was Lady Denham; & in their
Journey from Willingden to the Coast,
M^r Parker gave Charlotte a more
detailed account of her, than had been
called for before.--She had been necessarily
often mentioned at Willingden,--
for being his Colleague in Speculation,
Sanditon itself could not be talked of
long, without the introduction of Lady
Denham & that she was a very rich old
Lady, who had buried two Husbands,
who knew the value of Money, was very
much looked up to & had a poor Cousin
living with her, were facts already

( 32 )

well known, but some further particulars
of her history & her Character
served to lighten the tediousness of
a long Hill, or a heavy bit of road, and
to give the visiting Young Lady a suitable
Knowledge of the Person with
whom she might now expect to be
daily associating.--Lady D. had been
a rich Miss Brereton, born to Wealth
but not to Education. Her first Husband
had been a M^r Hollis, a man of
considerable Property in the Country,
of which a large share of the Parish of
Sanditon, with Manor & Mansion House
made a part. He had been an elderly
Man when she married him;--her own
age about 30.--Her motives for such
a Match could be little understood at
the distance of 40 years, but she had so
well nursed & pleased M^r Hollis, that
at his death he left her everything--
all his Estates, & all at her Disposal.

( 33 )

After a widowhood of some years, she
had been induced to marry again.
The late Sir Harry Denham, of Denham
Park in the Neighbourhood of
Sanditon had succeeded in removing
her & her large Income to his own
Domains, but he c^d not succeed in the
veiws of permanently enriching his
family, which were attributed to him.
She had been too wary to put anything
out of her own Power--and when on
Sir Harry’s Decease she returned again
to her own House at Sanditon, she was
said to have made this boast to a
friend “that though she had _got_
nothing but her Title from the Family,
still she had _given_ nothing for it.”--
For the Title, it was to be supposed
that she had married--& M^r P.
acknowledged there being just such
a degree of value for it apparent now,
as to give her conduct that natural

( 34 )

explanation. “There is at times said
he--a little self-importance--but it is
not offensive;--& there are moments,
there are points, when her Love of
Money is carried greatly too far. But
she is a goodnatured Woman, a very
goodnatured Woman,--a very obliging,
friendly Neighbour; a chearful, independant,
valuable character.--and her
faults may be entirely imputed to her
want of Education. She has good
natural Sense, but quite uncultivated.
--She has a fine active mind, as well
as a fine healthy frame for a Woman of
70, & enters into the improvement of
Sanditon with a spirit truly admirable
--though now & then, a Littleness _will_
appear. She cannot look forward quite
as I would have her--& takes alarm at
a trifling present expence, without
considering what returns it _will_ make
her in a year or two. That is--we

( 35 )

think _differently_, we now & then, see
things _differently_, Miss H.--Those who
tell their own Story you know must be
listened to with Caution.--When you
see us in contact, you will judge for
yourself.”--Lady D. was indeed a great
Lady beyond the common wants of
Society--for she had many Thousands
a year to bequeath, & three distinct
sets of People to be courted by; her
own relations, who might very reasonably
wish for her Original Thirty Thousand
Pounds among them, the legal
Heirs of M^r Hollis, who must hope to
be more endebted to _her_ sense of
Justice than he had allowed them to
be to _his_, and those Members of the
Denham Family, whom her 2^d Husband
had hoped to make a good Bargain for.
--By all of these, or by Branches of
them, she had no doubt been long, &
still continued to be, well attacked;--

( 36 )

and of these three divisions, M^r P. did
not hesitate to say that M^r Hollis’
Kindred were the _least_ in favour & Sir
Harry Denham’s the _most_.--The former
he beleived, had done themselves irremediable
harm by expressions of very
unwise & unjustifiable resentment at
the time of Mr. Hollis’s death;--the
Latter, to the advantage of being the
remnant of a Connection which she
certainly valued, joined those of having
been known to her from their Childhood,
& of being always at hand to
preserve their interest by reasonable
attention. Sir Edward, the present
Baronet, nephew to Sir Harry, resided
constantly at Denham Park; & M^r P--
had little doubt, that he & his Sister
Miss D-- who lived with him, w^d be
principally remembered in her Will.
He sincerely hoped it.--Miss Denham
had a very small provision--& her

( 37 )

Brother was a poor Man for his rank
in Society. “He is a warm friend to
Sanditon--said M^r Parker--& his hand
w^d be as liberal as his heart, had he
the Power.--He would be a noble Coadjutor!
--As it is, he does what he can
--& is running up a tasteful little
Cottage Ornèe, on a strip of Waste
Ground Lady D. has granted him,
which I have no doubt we shall have
many a Candidate for, before the end
even of _this_ Season.” Till within the
last twelvemonth, M^r P. had considered
Sir Edw: as standing without
a rival, as having the fairest chance of
succeeding to the greater part of all
that she had to give--but there was
now another person’s claims to be
taken into the account, those of the
young female relation, whom Lady D.
had been induced to receive into her
Family. After having always protested

( 38 )

against any such Addition, and
long & often enjoyed the repeated
defeats she had given to every attempt
of her relations to introduce this young
Lady, or that young Lady as a Companion
at Sanditon House, she had
brought back with her from London
last Michaelmas a Miss Brereton, who
bid fair by her Merits to vie in favour
with Sir Edward, and to secure for
herself & her family that share of the
accumulated Property which they had
certainly the best right to inherit.--
M^r Parker spoke warmly of Clara
Brereton, & the interest of his story
increased very much with the introduction
of such a Character. Charlotte
listened with more than amusement
now;--it was solicitude & Enjoyment,
as she heard her described to be lovely,
amiable, gentle, unassuming, conducting
herself uniformly with great good

( 39 )

sense, & evidently gaining by her innate
worth, on the affections of her Patroness.
--Beauty, Sweetness, Poverty &
Dependance, do not want the imagination
of a Man to operate upon. With
due exceptions--Woman feels for
Woman very promptly & compassionately.
He gave the particulars which
had led to Clara’s admission at Sanditon,
as no bad exemplification of
that mixture of Character, that union
of Littleness with Kindness with Good
Sence with even Liberality which he saw
in Lady D.-- After having avoided
London for many years, principally
on account of these very Cousins,
who were continually writing, inviting
& tormenting her, & whom she was
determined to keep at a distance, she
had been obliged to go there last
Michaelmas with the certainty of being
detained at least a fortnight.--She had

( 40 )

gone to an Hotel--living by her own
account as prudently as possible, to
defy the reputed expensiveness of such
a home, & at the end of three Days
calling for her Bill, that she might
judge of her state.--It’s amount was
such as determined her on staying not
another hour in the House, & she was
preparing in all the anger & perturbation
which a beleif of very gross imposition
_there_, & an ignorance of where to
go for better usage, to leave the Hotel
at all hazards, when the Cousins, the
politic & lucky Cousins, who seemed
always to have a spy on her, introduced
themselves at this important
moment, & learning her situation, persuaded
her to accept such a home for
the rest of her stay as their humbler
house in a very inferior part of London,
c^d offer.--She went; was delighted
with her welcome & the hospitality &

( 41 )

attention she received from every body
--found her good Cousins the B----
beyond her expectation worthy people
--& finally was impelled by a personal
knowledge of their narrow Income &
pecuniary difficulties, to invite one of
the girls of the family to pass the
Winter with her. The invitation was
to _one_, for six months--with the probability
of another being then to take
her place;--but in _selecting_ the one,
Lady D. had shewn the good part of
her Character--for passing by the
actual _daughters_ of the House, she had
chosen Clara, a Neice--, more helpless
& more pitiable of course than any--
a dependant on Poverty--an additional
Burthen on an encumbered Circle--&
one, who had been so low in every
worldly veiw, as with all her natural
endowments & powers, to have been
preparing for a situation little better

( 42 )

than a Nursery Maid.--Clara had returned
with her--& by her good sence
& merit had now, to all appearance
secured a very strong hold in Lady D.’s
regard. The six months had long been
over--& not a syllable was breathed of
any change, or exchange.--She was
a general favourite;--the influence of
her steady conduct & mild, gentle
Temper was felt by everybody. The
prejudices which had met her at first
in some quarters, were all dissipated.
She was felt to be worthy of Trust--to
be the very companion who w^d guide
& soften Lady D-- who w^d enlarge
her mind & open her hand.--She was
as thoroughly amiable as she was lovely
--& since having had the advantage
of their Sanditon Breezes, that Loveliness
was complete.

( 43 )

CHAPTER 4.

“And whose very snug-looking Place
is this?”--said Charlotte, as in a
sheltered Dip within 2 miles of the
Sea, they passed close by a moderate-
sized house, well fenced & planted, &
rich in the Garden, Orchard & Meadows
which are the best embellishments of
such a Dwelling. “It seems to have
as many comforts about it as Willingden.”
--“Ah!--said M^r P.--This is my
old House--the house of my Forefathers
--the house where I & all my
Brothers & Sisters were born & bred--
& where my own 3 eldest Children
were born--where M^{rs} P. & I lived till
within the last 2 years--till our new

( 44 )

House was finished.--I am glad you
are pleased with it.--It is an honest
old Place--and Hillier keeps it in very
good order. I have given it up you
know to the Man who occupies the
cheif of my Land. _He_ gets a better
House by it--& I, a rather better
situation!--one other Hill brings us
to Sanditon--modern Sanditon--a
beautiful Spot.--Our Ancestors, you
know always built in a hole.--Here
were we, pent down in this little contracted
Nook, without Air or Veiw,
only one mile & 3 q^{rs} from the noblest
expanse of Ocean between the South
foreland & the Land’s end, & without
the smallest advantage from it. You
will not think I have made a bad
exchange, when we reach Trafalgar
House--which by the bye, I almost
wish I had not named Trafalgar--for
Waterloo is more the thing now. However,

( 45 )

Waterloo is in reserve--& if we
have encouragement enough this year
for a little Crescent to be ventured on
--(as I trust we shall) then, we shall
be able to call it Waterloo Crescent--
& the name joined to the form of the
Building, which always takes, will give
us the command of Lodgers--. In a
good Season we sh^d have more applications
than we could attend to.”--“It
was always a very comfortable House--
said M^{rs} Parker--looking at it through
the back window with something like
the fondness of regret.--And such a
nice Garden--such an excellent Garden.”
“Yes, my Love, but _that_ we
may be said to carry with us.--_It_
supplies us, as before, with all the fruit
& vegetables we want; & we have in
fact all the comfort of an excellent
Kitchen Garden, without the constant
Eyesore of its formalities; or

( 46 )

the yearly nuisance of its decaying vegetation.
--Who can endure a Cabbage
Bed in October”? “Oh! dear--
yes.--We are quite as well off for
Gardenstuff as ever we were--for if it
is forgot to be brought at any time,
we can always buy what we want at
Sanditon-House.--The Gardiner there,
is glad enough to supply us--. But it
was a nice place for the Children to run
about in. So shady in Summer!”
“My dear, we shall have shade enough
on the Hill & more than enough in the
course of a very few years;--The
Growth of my Plantations is a general
astonishment. In the mean while we
have the Canvas Awning, which gives
us the most complete comfort within
doors--& you can get a Parasol at
Whitby’s for little Mary at any time,
or a large Bonnet at Jebb’s--and as
for the Boys, I must say I w^d rather

( 47 )

_them_ run about in the Sunshine than
not. I am sure we agree my dear, in
wishing our Boys to be as hardy as
possible.”--“Yes indeed, I am sure
we do--& I will get Mary a little
Parasol, which will make her as proud
as can be. How Grave she will walk
about with it, and fancy herself quite
a little Woman.--Oh! I have not the
smallest doubt of our being a great
deal better off where we are now. If
we any of us want to bathe, we have
not a q^r of a mile to go.--But you
know, (still looking back) one loves to
look at an old friend, at a place where
one has been happy.--The Hilliers
did not seem to feel the Storms last
Winter at all.--I remember seeing
M^{rs} Hillier after one of those dreadful
Nights, when _we_ had been literally
rocked in our bed, and she did not
seem at all aware of the Wind being

( 48 )

anything more than common.” “Yes,
yes--that’s likely enough. _We_ have
all the Grandeur of the Storm, with
less real danger, because the Wind
meeting with nothing to oppose or
confine it around our House, simply
rages & passes on--while down in this
Gutter--nothing is known of the state
of the Air, below the Tops of the Trees
--and the Inhabitants may be taken
totally unawares, by one of those
dreadful Currents which do more mischief
in a Valley, when they _do_ arise
than an open Country ever experiences
in the heaviest Gale.--But my dear
Love--as to Gardenstuff;--you were
saying that any accidental omission is
supplied in a moment by Ly D.’s
Gardiner--but it occurs to me that
we ought to go elsewhere upon such
occasions--& that old Stringer & his
son have a higher claim. I encouraged

( 49 )

him to set up--& am afraid he does
not do very well--that is, there has
not been time enough yet.--He _will_
do very well beyond a doubt--but at
first it is Uphill work; and therefore
we must give him what Help we can--
& when any Vegetables or fruit happen
to be wanted--& it will not be amiss
to have them often wanted, to have
something or other forgotten most
days;--Just to have a nominal supply
you know, that poor old Andrew may
not lose his daily Job--but in fact to
buy the cheif of our consumption of
the Stringers.--” “Very well my
Love, that can be easily done--& Cook
will be satisfied--which will be a great
comfort, for she is always complaining
of old Andrew now, & says he never
brings her what she wants.--There--
now the old House is quite left behind.
--What is it, your Brother Sidney says

( 50 )

about it’s being a Hospital?” “Oh!
my dear Mary, merely a Joke of his.
He pretends to advise me to make
a Hospital of it. He pretends to laugh
at my Improvements. Sidney says
any thing you know. He has always
said what he chose of & to us, all.
Most Families have such a member
among them I beleive Miss Heywood.
--There is a someone in most
families privileged by superior abilities
or spirits to say anything.--In ours, it is
Sidney; who is a very clever Young Man,
--and with great powers of pleasing.--
He lives too much in the World to be
settled; that is his only fault.--He is
here & there & every where. I wish
we may get him to Sanditon. I should
like to have you acquainted with him.
--And it would be a fine thing for the
Place!--Such a young Man as Sidney,
with his neat equipage & fashionable

( 51 )

air,--You & I Mary, know what effect
it might have: Many a respectable
Family, many a careful Mother, many
a pretty Daughter, might it secure us,
to the prejudice of E. Bourne &
Hastings.”--They were now approaching
the Church & neat village of
Sanditon, which stood at the foot of
the Hill they were afterwards to ascend
--a Hill, whose side was covered with
the Woods & enclosures of Sanditon
House and whose Height ended in an
open Down where the new Build^{gs}
might soon be looked for. A branch
only, of the Valley, winding more
obliquely towards the Sea, gave a
passage to an inconsiderable Stream,
& formed at its mouth, a 3^d Habitable
Division, in a small cluster of Fisherman’s
Houses.--The Village contained
little more than Cottages, but the
Spirit of the day had been caught, as

( 52 )

M^r P. observed with delight to Charlotte,
& two or three of the best of
them were smartened up with a white
Curtain & “Lodgings to let”--, and
farther on, in the little Green Court of
an old Farm House, two Females in
elegant white were actually to be seen
with their books & camp stools--and
in turning the corner of the Baker’s
shop, the sound of a Harp might be
heard through the upper Casement.--
Such sights & sounds were highly Blissful
to M^r P.--Not that he had any
personal concern in the success of the
Village itself; for considering it as too
remote from the Beach, he had done
nothing there--but it was a most valuable
proof of the increasing fashion of
the place altogether. If the _Village_
could attract, the Hill might be nearly
full.--He anticipated an amazing Season.
--At the same time last year, (late

( 53 )

in July) there had not been a single
Lodger in the Village!--nor did he
remember any during the whole
Summer, excepting one family of children
who came from London for sea
air after the hooping Cough, and whose
Mother would not let them be nearer
the shore for fear of their tumbling in.
--“Civilization, Civilization indeed!--
cried M^r P--, delighted--. Look my
dear Mary--Look at William Heeley’s
windows.--Blue Shoes, & nankin
Boots!--Who w^d have expected such
a sight at a Shoemaker’s in old Sanditon!
--This is new within the Month.
There was no blue Shoe when we passed
this way a month ago.--Glorious indeed!
--Well, I think I _have_ done
something in my Day.--Now, for our
Hill, our health-breathing Hill.--” In
ascending, they passed the Lodge-
Gates of Sanditon House, & saw the

( 54 )

top of the House itself among its
Groves. It was the last Building of
former Days in that line of the Parish.
A little higher up, the Modern began;
& in crossing the Down, a Prospect
House, a Bellevue Cottage, & a Denham
Place were to be looked at by
Charlotte with the calmness of amused
Curiosity, & by M^r P. with the eager
eye which hoped to see scarcely any
empty houses.--More Bills at the Window
than he had calculated on;--and
a smaller shew of company on the Hill
--Fewer Carriages, fewer Walkers. He
had fancied it just the time of day for
them to be all returning from their
Airings to dinner--But the Sands &
the Terrace always attracted some--.
and the Tide must be flowing--about
half-Tide now.--He longed to be on
the Sands, the Cliffs, at his own House,
& everywhere out of his House at

( 55 )

once. His Spirits rose with the very
sight of the Sea & he c^d almost feel his
Ancle getting stronger already.--Trafalgar
House, on the most elevated
spot on the Down was a light elegant
Building, standing in a small Lawn
with a very young plantation round it,
about an hundred yards from the brow
of a steep, but not very lofty Cliff--
and the nearest to it, of every Building,
excepting one short row of smart-
looking Houses, called the Terrace,
with a broad walk in front, aspiring to
be the Mall of the Place. In this row
were the best Milliner’s shop & the
Library--a little detached from it, the
Hotel & Billiard Room--Here began
the Descent to the Beach, & to the
Bathing Machines--& this was therefore
the favourite spot for Beauty &
Fashion.--At Trafalgar House, rising
at a little distance behind the Terrace,

( 56 )

the Travellers were safely set down,
& all was happiness & Joy between
Papa & Mama & their Children; while
Charlotte having received possession
of her apartment, found amusement
enough in standing at her ample,
Venetian window, & looking over the
miscellaneous foreground of unfinished
Buildings, waving Linen, & tops of
Houses, to the Sea, dancing & sparkling
in Sunshine & Freshness.--

( 57 )

CHAPTER 5.

When they met before dinner, M^r P.
was looking over Letters.--“Not a
Line from Sidney!--said he.--He is
an idle fellow.--I sent him an account
of my accident from Willingden, &
thought he would have vouchsafed me
an Answer.--But perhaps it implies
that he is coming himself.--I trust it
may.--But here is a Letter from one
of my Sisters. _They_ never fail me.--
Women are the only Correspondents to
be depended on.--Now Mary, (smiling
at his Wife)--before I open it, what
shall we guess as to the state of health
of those it comes from--or rather what
w^d Sidney say if he were here?--Sidney

( 58 )

is a saucy fellow, Miss H.--And you
must know, he will have it there is
a good deal of Imagination in my two
Sisters’ complaints--but it really is
not so--or very little--They have
wretched health, as you have heard
us say frequently, & are subject to
a variety of very serious Disorders.--
Indeed, I do not beleive they know
what a day’s health is;--& at the
same time, they are such excellent
useful Women & have so much energy
of Character that, where any Good is
to be done, they force themselves on
exertions which to those who do not
thoroughly know them, have an extraordinary
appearance.--But there is
really no affectation about them. They
have only weaker constitutions &
stronger minds than are often met
with, either separate or together.--
And our Youngest B^r--who lives with

( 59 )

them, & who is not much above 20,
I am sorry to say, is almost as great
an Invalid as themselves.--He is so
delicate that he can engage in no Profession.
--Sidney laughs at him--but
it really is no Joke--tho’ Sidney often
makes me laugh at them all in spite of
myself.--Now, if he were here, I know
he w^d be offering odds that either
Susan Diana or Arthur w^d appear by
this letter to have been at the point of
death within the last month.”--Having
run his eye over the Letter, he shook his
head & began--“No chance of seeing
them at Sanditon I am sorry to say.--
A very indifferent account of them
indeed. Seriously, a very indifferent
account.--Mary, you will be quite sorry
to hear how ill they have been & are.--
Miss H., if you will give me leave, I will
read Diana’s Letter aloud.--I like to
have my friends acquainted with each

( 60 )

other--& I am afraid this is the only
sort of acquaintance I shall have the
means of accomplishing between you.
--And I can have no scruple on
Diana’s account--for her Letters shew
her exactly as she is, the most active,
friendly, warm hearted Being in existence,
& therefore must give a good
impression.” He read.--“My dear
Tom, We were all much greived at
your accident, & if you had not
described yourself as fallen into such
very good hands, I sh^d have been with
you at all hazards the day after the
rec^{pt} of your Letter, though it found
me suffering under a more severe attack
than usual of my old greivance, Spasmodic
Bile & hardly able to crawl
from my Bed to the Sofa.--But how
were you treated?--Send me more
Particulars in your next.--If indeed a
simple Sprain, as you denominate it,

( 61 )

nothing w^d have been so judicious as
Friction, Friction by the hand alone,
supposing it could be applied _instantly_.
--Two years ago I happened to be
calling on M^{rs} Sheldon when her
Coachman sprained his foot as he was
cleaning the Carriage & c^d hardly limp
into the House--but by the immediate
use of Friction alone, steadily persevered
in, (& I rubbed his Ancle with
my own hand for six Hours without
Intermission)--he was well in three
days.--Many Thanks my dear Tom for
the kindness with respect to us, which
had so large a share in bringing on
your accident--But pray never run
into Peril again, in looking for an
Apothecary on our account, for had
you the most experienced Man in his
Line settled at Sanditon, it w^d be no
recommendation to us. We have
entirely done with the whole Medical

( 62 )

Tribe. We have consulted Physician
after Phy^n in vain, till we are quite
convinced that they can do nothing for
us & that we must trust to our own
knowledge of our own wretched Constitutions
for any releif.--But if you
think it advisable for the interest of
the _Place_, to get a Medical Man there,
I will undertake the commission with
pleasure, & have no doubt of succeeding.
--I could soon put the necessary
Irons in the fire.--As for getting to
Sanditon myself, it is quite an Impossibility.
I greive to say that I dare not
attempt it, but my feelings tell me too
plainly that in my present state, the
Sea air w^d probably be the death of
me.--And neither of my dear Companions
will leave me, or I w^d promote
their going down to you for a fortnight.
But in truth, I doubt whether
Susan’s nerves w^d be equal to the effort.

( 63 )

She has been suffering much from the
Headache and Six Leaches a day for
10 days together releived her so little
that we thought it right to change our
measures--and being convinced on
examination that much of the Evil
lay in her Gum, I persuaded her to
attack the disorder there. She has
accordingly had 3 Teeth drawn, & is
decidedly better, but her Nerves are
a good deal deranged. She can only
speak in a whisper--and fainted away
twice this morning on poor Arthur’s
trying to suppress a cough. He, I am
happy to say is tolerably well--tho’
more languid than I like--& I fear
for his Liver.--I have heard nothing
of Sidney since your being together in
Town, but conclude his scheme to the
I. of Wight has not taken place, or we
should have seen him in his way.--
Most sincerely do we wish you a good

( 64 )

Season at Sanditon, & though we
cannot contribute to your Beau Monde
in person, we are doing our utmost to
send you Company worth having; &
think we may safely reckon on securing
you two large Families, one a rich
West Indian from Surry, the other, a
most respectable Girls Boarding School,
or Academy, from Camberwell.--I will
not tell you how many People I have
employed in the business--Wheel within
wheel.--But Success more than repays.
--Yours most affec^{ly}--&c” “Well--
said M^r P.--as he finished. Though
I dare say Sidney might find something
extremely entertaining in this
Letter & make us laugh for half an
hour together I declare _I_ by myself,
can see nothing in it but what is either
very pitiable or very creditable.--With
all their sufferings, you perceive how
much they are occupied in promoting

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the Good of others!--So anxious for
Sanditon! Two large Families--One,
for Prospect House probably, the other,
for N^o 2. Denham Place--or the end
house of the Terrace,--& extra Beds
at the Hotel.--I told you my Sisters
were excellent Women, Miss H----.”
“And I am sure they must be very
extraordinary ones.--said Charlotte.
I am astonished at the chearful style
of the Letter, considering the state in
which both Sisters appear to be.--
Three Teeth drawn at once!--frightful!
--Your Sister Diana seems almost
as ill as possible, but those 3 Teeth of
your Sister Susan’s, are more distressing
than all the rest.--” “Oh!--
they are so used to the operation--to
every operation--& have such Fortitude!--”
“Your Sisters know what
they are about, I dare say, but their
Measures seem to touch on Extremes.

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--I feel that in any illness, _I_ should be
so anxious for Professional advice, so
very little venturesome for myself, or
any body I loved!--But then, _we_ have
been so healthy a family, that I can
be no Judge of what the habit of self-
doctoring may do.--” “Why to own
the truth, said M^{rs} P.--I _do_ think the
Miss Parkers carry it too far sometimes--&
so do you my Love, you know.--
You often think they w^d be better, if
they w^d leave themselves more alone--&
especially Arthur. I know you think
it a great pity they sh^d give _him_ such
a turn for being ill.--” “Well, well--
my dear Mary--I grant you, it _is_ unfortunate
for poor Arthur, that, at his
time of Life he sh^d be encouraged to
give way to Indisposition. It _is_ bad;
--it _is_ bad that he should be fancying
himself too sickly for any Profession--
& sit down at 1 & 20, on the interest

( 67 )

of his own little Fortune, without any
idea of attempting to improve it, or
of engaging in any occupation that
may be of use to himself or others.--
But let us talk of pleasanter things.--
These two large Families are just what
we wanted--But--here is something
at hand, pleasanter still--Morgan, with
his “Dinner on Table.”--

( 69 )

CHAPTER 6.

The Party were very soon moving
after Dinner. M^r P. could not be
satisfied without an early visit to the
Library, & the Library Subscription
book, & Charlotte was glad to see as
much, & as quickly as possible, where
all was new. They were out in the very
quietest part of a Watering-place Day,
when the important Business of Dinner
or of sitting after Dinner was going on
in almost every inhabited Lodging;--
here & there a solitary Elderly Man
might be seen, who was forced to move
early & walk for health--but in general,
it was a thorough pause of Company,
it was Emptiness & Tranquillity on the

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Terrace, the Cliffs, & the Sands.--The
Shops were deserted--the Straw Hats
& pendant Lace seemed left to their
fate both within the House & without,
and M^{rs} Whitby at the Library was
sitting in her inner room, reading one
of her own Novels, for want of Employment.--The
List of Subscribers was
but commonplace. The Lady Denham,
Miss Brereton, M^r & M^{rs} P----
Sir Edw: Denham & Miss Denham,
whose names might be said to lead off
the Season, were followed by nothing
better than--M^{rs} Mathews--Miss
Mathews, Miss E. Mathews, Miss H.
Mathews.--D^r & M^{rs} Brown--M^r
Richard Pratt.--Lieut: Smith R.N.
Capt: Little,--Limehouse.--M^{rs} Jane
Fisher. Miss Fisher. Miss Scroggs.--
Rev: M^r Hanking. M^r Beard--Solicitor,
Grays Inn.--M^{rs} Davis. & Miss Merryweather.
--M^r P. could not but feel that

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the List was not only without Distinction,
but less numerous than he had
hoped. It was but July however, &
August & September were the Months;
--And besides, the promised large
Families from Surry & Camberwell,
were an ever-ready consolation.--M^{rs}
Whitby came forward without delay
from her Literary recess, delighted to
see M^r Parker again, whose manners
recommended him to every body, &
they were fully occupied in their
various Civilities & Communications,
while Charlotte having added her name
to the List as the first offering to the
success of the Season, was busy in
some immediate purchases for the
further good of Every body, as soon as
Miss Whitby could be hurried down
from her Toilette, with all her glossy
curls & smart Trinkets to wait on her.
--The Library of course, afforded every

( 72 )

thing; all the useless things in the
World that c^d not be done without,
& among so many pretty Temptations,
& with so much good will for M^r P.
to encourage Expenditure, Charlotte
began to feel that she must check
herself--or rather she reflected that at
two & Twenty there c^d be no excuse
for her doing otherwise--& that it w^d
not do for her to be spending all her
Money the very first Evening. She
took up a Book; it happened to be a
vol: of _Camilla_. She had not _Camilla_’s
Youth, & had no intention of having
her Distress,--so, she turned from the
Drawers of rings & Broches repressed
farther solicitation & paid for what she
bought.--For her particular gratification,
they were then to take a Turn on
the Cliff--but as they quitted the
Library they were met by two Ladies
whose arrival made an alteration necessary,

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Lady Denham & Miss Brereton.
--They had been to Trafalgar House,
& been directed thence to the Library,
& though Lady D. was a great deal too
active to regard the walk of a mile as
any thing requiring rest, & talked of
going home again directly, the Parkers
knew that to be pressed into their
House, & obliged to take her Tea with
them, would suit her best,--& therefore
the stroll on the Cliff gave way to
an immediate return home.--“No, no,
said her Ladyship--I will not have
you hurry your Tea on my account.--
I know you like your Tea late.--My
early hours are not to put my Neighbours
to inconvenience. No, no, Miss
Clara & I will get back to our own
Tea.--We came out with no other
Thought.--We wanted just to see you
& make sure of your being really
come--, but we get back to our own

( 74 )

Tea.”--She went on however towards
Trafalgar House & took possession of
the Drawing room very quietly--without
seeming to hear a word of M^{rs} P.’s
orders to the Servant as they entered,
to bring Tea directly. Charlotte was
fully consoled for the loss of her walk,
by finding herself in company with
those, whom the conversation of the
morn^g had given her a great curiosity
to see. She observed them well.--
Lady D. was of middle height, stout,
upright & alert in her motions, with a
shrewd eye, & self-satisfied air--but
not an unagreable Countenance--&
tho’ her manner was rather downright
& abrupt, as of a person who valued
herself on being free-spoken, there was
a good humour & cordiality about her
--a civility & readiness to be acquainted
with Charlotte herself, & a heartiness
of welcome towards her old friends,

( 75 )

which was inspiring the Good will, she
seemed to feel;--And as for Miss
Brereton, her appearance so completely
justified M^r P.’s praise that Charlotte
thought she had never beheld a more
lovely, or more Interesting young
Woman.--Elegantly tall, regularly
handsome, with great delicacy of complexion
& soft Blue eyes, a sweetly
modest & yet naturally graceful Address,
Charlotte could see in her only
the most perfect representation of
whatever Heroine might be most
beautiful & bewitching, in all the
numerous vol:^s they had left behind
them on M^{rs} Whitby’s shelves.--Perhaps
it might be partly oweing to her
having just issued from a Circulating
Library--but she c^d not separate the
idea of a complete Heroine from Clara
Brereton. Her situation with Lady
Denham so very much in favour of it!

( 76 )

--She seemed placed with her on purpose
to be ill-used. Such Poverty &
Dependance joined to such Beauty
& Merit, seemed to leave no choice in
the business.--These feelings were not
the result of any spirit of Romance in
Charlotte herself. No, she was a very
sober-minded young Lady, sufficiently
well-read in Novels to supply her
Imagination with amusement, but not
at all unreasonably influenced by them;
& while she pleased herself the first
5 minutes with fancying the Persecutions
which _ought_ to be the Lot of the
interesting Clara, especially in the form
of the most barbarous conduct on Lady
Denham’s side, she found no reluctance
to admit from subsequent observation,
that they appeared to be on very comfortable
Terms.--She c^d see nothing
worse in Lady Denham, than the sort
of oldfashioned formality of always

( 77 )

calling her _Miss Clara_--nor anything
objectionable in the degree of observance
& attention which Clara paid.--
On one side it seemed protecting kindness,
on the other grateful & affectionate
respect.--The Conversation
turned entirely upon Sanditon, its
present number of Visitants & the
Chances of a good Season. It was
evident that Lady D. had more anxiety,
more fears of loss, than her Coadjutor.
She wanted to have the Place fill
faster, & seemed to have many harassing
apprehensions of the Lodgings
being in some instances underlet.--
Miss Diana Parker’s two large Families
were not forgotten. “Very good, very
good, said her Ladyship.--A West Indy
Family & a school. That sounds well.
That will bring Money.”--“No people
spend more freely, I beleive, than W.
Indians.” observed M^r Parker.--“Aye

( 78 )

--so I have heard--and because they
have full Purses, fancy themselves
equal, may be, to your old Country
Families. But then, they who scatter
their Money so freely, never think of
whether they may not be doing mischeif
by raising the price of Things--
And I have heard that’s very much
the case with your West-injines--and
if they come among us to raise the
price of our necessaries of Life, we
shall not much thank them M^r Parker.”
--“My dear Madam, They can only
raise the price of consumeable Articles,
by such an extraordinary Demand for
them & such a diffusion of Money
among us, as must do us more Good
than harm.--Our Butchers & Bakers
& Traders in general cannot get rich
without bringing Prosperity to _us_.--If
_they_ do not gain, our rents must be
insecure--& in proportion to their

( 79 )

profit must be ours eventually in the
increased value of our Houses.” “Oh!
--well.--But I should not like to have
Butcher’s meat raised, though--& I
shall keep it down as long as I can.--
Aye--that young Lady smiles I see;
--I dare say she thinks me an odd sort
of a Creature,--but _she_ will come to
care about such matters herself in
time. Yes, Yes, my Dear, depend upon
it, you will be thinking of the price of
Butcher’s meat in time--tho’ you may
not happen to have quite such a Servants
Hall full to feed, as I have.--
And I do beleive _those_ are best off, that
have fewest Servants.--I am not a
Woman of Parade, as all the World
knows, & if it was not for what I owe
to poor M^r Hollis’s memory, I should
never keep up Sanditon House as I do;
--it is not for my own pleasure.--Well
M^r Parker--and the other is a Boarding

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school, a French Boarding School,
is it?--No harm in that.--They’ll stay
their six weeks.--And out of such a
number, who knows but some may be
consumptive & want Asses milk--&
I have two Milch asses at this present
time.--But perhaps the little Misses
may hurt the Furniture.--I hope they
will have a good sharp Governess to
look after them.--” Poor M^r Parker
got no more credit from Lady D. than
he had from his Sisters, for the Object
which had taken him to Willingden.
“Lord! my dear Sir, she cried, how
could you think of such a thing?
I am very sorry you met with your
accident, but upon my word you deserved
it.--Going after a Doctor!--
Why, what sh^d we do with a Doctor
here? It w^d be only encouraging our
Servants & the Poor to fancy themselves
ill, if there was a D^r at hand.--

( 81 )

Oh! pray, let us have none of the Tribe
at Sanditon. We go on very well as we
are. There is the Sea & the Downs &
my Milch-asses--& I have told M^{rs}
Whitby that if any body enquires for
a Chamber-House, they may be supplied
at a fair rate--(poor M^r Hollis’s
Chamber-House, as good as new)--
and what can People want for more?--
Here have I lived 70 good years in the
world & never took Physic above twice
--and never saw the face of a Doctor
in all my Life, on my _own_ account.--
And I verily beleive if my poor dear
Sir Harry had never seen one neither,
he w^d have been alive now.--Ten fees,
one after another, did the Man take
who sent _him_ out of the World.--
I beseech you M^r Parker, no Doctors
here.”--The Tea things were brought
in.--“Oh! my dear M^{rs} Parker--you
should not indeed--why would you do

( 82 )

so? I was just upon the point of
wishing you good Evening. But since
you are so very neighbourly, I beleive
Miss Clara & I must stay.”----

( 83 )

CHAPTER 7.

The popularity of the Parkers brought
them some visitors the very next morning;
--amongst them, Sir Edw^d Denham
& his Sister, who having been at
Sanditon H-- drove on to pay their
Compliments; & the duty of Letter-
writing being accomplished, Charlotte
was settled with M^{rs} P.-- in the Drawing
room in time to see them all.--The
Denhams were the only ones to excite
particular attention. Charlotte was
glad to complete her knowledge of the
family by an introduction to them, &
found them, the better half at least--
(for while single, the _Gentleman_ may
sometimes be thought the better half,

( 84 )

of the pair)--not unworthy notice.--
Miss D. was a fine young woman, but
cold & reserved, giving the idea of one
who felt her consequence with Pride
& her Poverty with Discontent, & who
was immediately gnawed by the want
of an handsomer Equipage than the
simple Gig in which they travelled,
& which their Groom was leading about
still in her sight.--Sir Edw^d was much
her superior in air & manner;--certainly
handsome, but yet more to be
remarked for his very good address
& wish of paying attention & giving
pleasure.--He came into the room remarkably
well, talked much--& very
much to Charlotte, by whom he chanced
to be placed--& she soon perceived
that he had a fine Countenance, a most
pleasing gentleness of Voice, & a great
deal of Conversation. She liked him.--
Sober-minded as she was, she thought

( 85 )

him agreable, & did not quarrel with
the suspicion of his finding her equally
so, which _would_ arise from his evidently
disregarding his Sister’s motion to go,
& persisting in his station & his discourse.
--I make no apologies for my
Heroine’s vanity.--If there are young
Ladies in the World at her time of
Life, more dull of Fancy & more careless
of pleasing, I know them not, &
never wish to know them.--At last,
from the low French windows of the
Drawing room which commanded the
road & all the Paths across the Down,
Charlotte & Sir Edw: as they sat,
could not but observe Lady D. & Miss
B. walking by--& there was instantly
a slight change in Sir Edw:’s countenance
--with an anxious glance after
them as they proceeded--followed by
an early proposal to his Sister--not
merely for moving, but for walking

( 86 )

on together to the Terrace--which
altogether gave an hasty turn to
Charlotte’s fancy, cured her of her
halfhour’s fever, & placed her in
a more capable state of judging, when
Sir Edw: was gone, of _how_ agreable
he had actually been.--“Perhaps there
was a good deal in his Air & Address;
And his Title did him no harm.” She
was very soon in his company again.
The first object of the Parkers, when
their House was cleared of morn^g
visitors was to get out themselves;--
the Terrace was the attraction to
all;--Every body who walked, must
begin with the Terrace, & there, seated
on one of the two Green Benches by
the Gravel walk, they found the united
Denham Party;--but though united in
the Gross, very distinctly divided again
--the two superior Ladies being at one
end of the bench, & Sir Edw: & Miss B.

( 87 )

at the other.--Charlotte’s first glance
told her that Sir Edw:’s air was that
of a Lover.--There could be no doubt
of his Devotion to Clara.--How Clara
received it, was less obvious--but she
was inclined to think not very favourably;
for tho’ sitting thus apart with
him (which probably she might not
have been able to prevent) her air was
calm & grave.--That the young Lady
at the other end of the Bench was
doing Penance, was indubitable. The
difference in Miss Denham’s countenance,
the change from Miss Denham
sitting in cold Grandeur in M^{rs} Parker’s
Draw^g-room to be kept from silence by
the efforts of others, to Miss D. at
Lady D.’s Elbow, listening & talking
with smiling attention or solicitous
eagerness, was very striking--and very
amusing--or very melancholy, just as
Satire or Morality might prevail.--

( 88 )

Miss Denham’s Character was pretty
well decided with Charlotte. Sir
Edward’s required longer Observation.
He surprised her by quitting
Clara immediately on their all joining
& agreeing to walk, & by addressing
his attentions entirely to herself.--
Stationing himself close by her, he
seemed to mean to detach her as much
as possible from the rest of the Party
& to give her the whole of his Conversation.
He began, in a tone of
great Taste & Feeling, to talk of the
Sea & the Sea shore--& ran with
Energy through all the usual Phrases
employed in praise of their Sublimity,
& descriptive of the _undescribable_ Emotions
they excite in the Mind of Sensibility.
--The terrific Grandeur of the
Ocean in a Storm, its glassy surface in
a calm, it’s Gulls & its Samphire, & the
deep fathoms of it’s Abysses, it’s quick

( 89 )

vicissitudes, it’s direful Deceptions, it’s
Mariners tempting it in Sunshine &
overwhelmed by the sudden Tempest,
All were eagerly & fluently touched;--
rather commonplace perhaps--but
doing very well from the Lips of a handsome
Sir Edward,--and she c^d not but
think him a Man of Feeling--till he
began to stagger her by the number of
his Quotations, & the bewilderment of
some of his sentences.--“Do you remember,
said he, Scott’s beautiful Lines
on the Sea?--Oh! what a description
they convey!--They are never out of
my Thoughts when I walk here.--
That Man who can read them unmoved
must have the nerves of an Assassin!--
Heaven defend me from meeting such
a Man un-armed.”--“What description
do you mean?--said Charlotte. I remember
none at this moment, of the
Sea, in either of Scott’s Poems.”--

( 90 )

“Do not you indeed?--Nor can I
exactly recall the beginning at this
moment--But--you cannot have forgotten
his description of Woman.--

“Oh! Woman in our Hours of
Ease--”

Delicious! Delicious!--Had he written
nothing more, he w^d have been Immortal.
And then again, that unequalled,
unrivalled address to Parental
affection--

“Some feelings are to Mortals given
With less of Earth in them than
Heaven” &c

But while we are on the subject of
Poetry, what think you Miss H. of
Burns Lines to his Mary?”--
“Oh! there is Pathos to madden one!
--If ever there was a Man who _felt_, it
was Burns.--Montgomery has all the
Fire of Poetry, Wordsworth has the true
soul of it--Campbell in his pleasures

( 91 )

of Hope has touched the extreme of
our Sensations--“Like Angel’s visits,
few & far between.” Can you conceive
any thing more subduing, more melting,
more fraught with the deep Sublime
than that Line?--But Burns--I
confess my sence of his Pre-eminence
Miss H.--If Scott _has_ a fault, it is the
want of Passion.--Tender, Elegant,
Descriptive--but _Tame_.--The Man
who cannot do justice to the attributes
of Woman is my contempt.--Sometimes
indeed a flash of feeling seems to
irradiate him--as in the Lines we were
speaking of--“Oh! Woman in our
hours of Ease”--. But Burns is always
on fire.--His Soul was the Altar in
which lovely Woman sat enshrined,
his Spirit truly breathed the immortal
Incence which is her Due.--” “I
have read several of Burn’s Poems with
great delight, said Charlotte as soon as

( 92 )

she had time to speak, but I am not
poetic enough to separate a Man’s
Poetry entirely from his Character;--
& poor Burns’s known Irregularities,
greatly interrupt my enjoyment of his
Lines.--I have difficulty, in depending
on the _Truth_ of his Feelings as a Lover.
I have not faith in the _sincerity_ of the
affections of a Man of his Description.
He felt & he wrote & he forgot.” “Oh!
no no--exclaimed Sir Edw: in an
extasy. He was all ardour & Truth!
--His Genius & his Susceptibilities
might lead him into some Aberrations
--But who is perfect?--It were Hyper-
criticism, it were Pseudo-philosophy to
expect from the soul of high toned
Genius, the grovellings of a common
mind.--The Coruscations of Talent,
elicited by impassioned feeling in the
breast of Man, are perhaps incompatible
with some of the prosaic

( 93 )

Decencies of Life;--nor can you, loveliest
Miss Heywood--(speaking with
an air of deep sentiment)--nor can
any Woman be a fair Judge of what
a Man may be propelled to say, write
or do, by the sovereign impulses of
illimitable Ardour.” This was very
fine;--but if Charlotte understood it at
all, not very moral--& being moreover
by no means pleased with his extraordinary
stile of compliment, she
gravely answered “I really know nothing
of the matter.--This is a charming
day. The Wind I fancy must
be Southerly.” “Happy, happy
Wind, to engage Miss Heywood’s
Thoughts!--” She began to think
him downright silly.--His chusing to
walk with her, she had learnt to understand.
It was done to pique Miss
Brereton. She had read it, in an
anxious glance or two on his side--

( 94 )

but why he sh^d talk so much Nonsense,
unless he could do no better, was unintelligible.
--He seemed very sentimental,
very full of some Feelings or
other, & very much addicted to all the
newest-fashioned hard words--had not
a very clear Brain she presumed, &
talked a good deal by rote.--The
Future might explain him further--
but when there was a proposition for
going into the Library she felt that she
had had quite enough of Sir Edw: for
one morn^g, & very gladly accepted
Lady D.’s invitation of remaining on
the Terrace with her.--The others all
left them, Sir Edw: with looks of very
gallant despair in tearing himself away,
& they united their agreableness--that
is, Lady Denham like a true great
Lady, talked & talked only of her own
concerns, & Charlotte listened--amused
in considering the contrast between

( 95 )

her two companions.--Certainly, there
was no strain of doubtful Sentiment,
nor any phrase of difficult interpretation
in Lady D’s discourse. Taking
hold of Charlotte’s arm with the ease
of one who felt that any notice from
her was an Honour, & communicative,
from the influence of the same conscious
Importance or a natural love of
talking, she immediately said in a tone
of great satisfaction--& with a look of
arch sagacity--“Miss Esther wants me
to invite her & her Brother to spend
a week with me at Sanditon House, as
I did last Summer--But I shan’t.--
She has been trying to get round me
every way, with her praise of this, &
her praise of that; but I saw what she
was about.--I saw through it all.--
I am not very easily taken-in my
Dear.” Charlotte c^d think of nothing
more harmless to be said, than the

( 96 )

simple enquiry of--“Sir Edward &
Miss Denham?”--“Yes, my Dear.
_My young Folks_, as I call them sometimes,
for I take them very much by
the hand. I had them with me last
Summer about this time, for a week;
from Monday to Monday; and very
delighted & thankful they were.--For
they are very good young People my
Dear. I w^d not have you think that I
_only_ notice them, for poor dear Sir
Harry’s sake. No, no; they are very
deserving themselves, or trust me, they
w^d not be so much in _my_ Company.--I
am not the Woman to help any body
blindfold.--I always take care to know
what I am about & who I have to deal
with, before I stir a finger.--I do not
think I was ever over-reached in my
Life; & That is a good deal for a
Woman to say that has been married
twice.--Poor dear Sir Harry (between

( 97 )

ourselves) thought at first to have got
more.--But (with a bit of a sigh) He
is gone, & we must not find fault with
the Dead. Nobody could live happier
together than us--& he was a very
honourable Man, quite the Gentleman
of ancient Family.--And when he died,
I gave Sir Edw^d his Gold Watch.--”
She said this with a look at her Companion
which implied it’s right to produce
a great Impression--& seeing no
rapturous astonishment in Charlottes
countenance, added quickly--“He did
not bequeath it to his Nephew, my
dear--It was no bequest. It was not
in the Will. He only told me, & _that_
but once, that he sh^d wish his Nephew
to have his Watch; but it need not
have been binding, if I had not chose
it.--” “Very kind indeed! very
Handsome!”--said Charlotte, absolutely
forced to affect admiration.--

( 98 )

“Yes, my dear--& it is not the _only_
kind thing I have done by him.--I have
been a very liberal friend to Sir Edw^d.
And poor young Man, he needs it bad
enough;--For though I am _only_ the
_Dowager_ my Dear, & he is the _Heir_,
things do not stand between us in the
way they commonly do between those
two parties.--Not a shilling do I receive
from the Denham Estate. Sir
Edw: has no Payments to make _me_.
He don’t stand uppermost, beleive me.--It
is _I_ that help _him_.” “Indeed!--
He is a very fine young Man;--particularly
Elegant in his Address.”--
This was said cheifly for the sake
of saying something--but Charlotte
directly saw that it was laying her open
to suspicion by Lady D’s giving a
shrewd glance at her & replying--
“Yes, yes, he is very well to look at
--& it is to be hoped some Lady of

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large fortune will think so--for Sir
Edw^d _must_ marry for Money.--He &
I often talk that matter over.--A handsome
young fellow like him, will go
smirking & smiling about & paying
girls compliments, but he knows he
_must_ marry for Money.--And Sir Edw:
is a very steady young Man in the main,
& has got very good notions.” “Sir
Edw: Denham, said Charlotte, with
such personal Advantages may be
almost sure of getting a Woman of
fortune, if he chuses it.”--This glorious
sentiment seemed quite to remove suspicion.
“Aye my Dear--That’s very
sensibly said cried Lady D-- And if
we c^d but get a young Heiress to S!
But Heiresses are monstrous scarce!
I do not think we have had an Heiress
here, or even a Co--since Sanditon
has been a public place. Families
come after Families, but as far as

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I can learn, it is not one in an hundred
of them that have any real Property,
Landed or Funded.--An Income perhaps,
but no Property. Clergymen
may be, or Lawyers from Town, or
Half pay officers, or Widows with only
a Jointure. And what good can such
people do anybody?--except just as
they take our empty Houses--and
(between ourselves) I think they are
great fools for not staying at home.
Now, if we could get a young Heiress
to be sent here for her health--(and if
she was ordered to drink asses milk
I could supply her)--and as soon as
she got well, have her fall in love with
Sir Edward!”--“That would be very
fortunate indeed.” “And Miss Esther
must marry somebody of fortune too--
She must get a rich Husband. Ah!
young Ladies that have no Money are
very much to be pitied!--But--after

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a short pause--if Miss Esther thinks
to talk me into inviting them to come
& stay at Sanditon House, she will find
herself mistaken.--Matters are altered
with me since last Summer you know--.
I have Miss Clara with me now, which
makes a great difference.” She spoke
this so seriously that Charlotte instantly
saw in it the evidence of real
penetration & prepared for some fuller
remarks--but it was followed only by--
“I have no fancy for having my House
as full as an Hotel. I should not chuse
to have my 2 Housemaids Time taken
up all the morn^g, in dusting out Bed
rooms.--They have Miss Clara’s room
to put to rights as well as my own
every day.--If they had hard Places,
they would want Higher Wages.--”
For objections of this Nature, Charlotte
was not prepared, & she found it
so impossible even to affect simpathy,

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that she c^d say nothing.--Lady D.
soon added, with great glee--“And
besides all this my Dear, am I to be
filling my House to the prejudice of
Sanditon?--If People want to be by
the Sea, why dont they take Lodgings?
--Here are a great many empty Houses
--3 on this very Terrace; no fewer
than three Lodging Papers staring me
in the face at this very moment, Numbers
3, 4 & 8. 8, the Corner House
may be too large for them, but either
of the two others are nice little snug
Houses, very fit for a young Gentleman
& his sister--And so, my dear, the
next time Miss Esther begins talking
about the Dampness of Denham Park,
& the Good Bathing always does her,
I shall advise them to come & take
one of these Lodgings for a fortnight.--
Don’t you think that will be very fair?
--Charity begins at home you know.”--

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Charlotte’s feelings were divided between
amusement & indignation--but
indignation had the larger & the increasing
share.--She kept her Countenance
& she kept a civil Silence. She
could not carry her forbearance farther;
but without attempting to listen longer,
& only conscious that Lady D. was still
talking on in the same way, allowed
her Thoughts to form themselves into
such a Meditation as this.--“She is
thoroughly mean. I had not expected
any thing so bad.--Mr. P. spoke too
mildly of her.--His Judgement is
evidently not to be trusted.--His own
Goodnature misleads him. He is too
kind hearted to see clearly.--I must
judge for myself.--And their very _connection_
prejudices him.--He has persuaded
her to engage in the same
Speculation--& because their object in
that Line is the same, he fancies she

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feels like him in others.--But she is
very, very mean.--I can see no Good
in her.--Poor Miss Brereton!--And she
makes every body mean about her.--
This poor Sir Edward & his Sister,--
how far Nature meant them to be
respectable I cannot tell,--but they
are _obliged_ to be Mean in their Servility
to her.--And I am Mean too, in giving
her my attention, with the appearance
of coinciding with her.--Thus it is,
when Rich People are Sordid.”--

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CHAPTER 8.

The two Ladies continued walking
together till rejoined by the others,
who as they issued from the Library
were followed by a young Whitby
running off with 5 vols. under his arm
to Sir Edward’s Gig--and Sir Edw:
approaching Charlotte, said “You may
perceive what has been our Occupation.
My Sister wanted my Counsel in the
selection of some books.--We have
many leisure hours, & read a great
deal.--I am no indiscriminate Novel-
Reader. The mere Trash of the
common Circulating Library, I hold
in the highest contempt. You will
never hear me advocating those puerile
Emanations which detail nothing but

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discordant Principles incapable of
Amalgamation, or those vapid tissues
of ordinary Occurrences from which no
useful Deductions can be drawn.--In
vain may we put them into a literary
Alembic;--we distil nothing which can
add to Science.--You understand me
I am sure?” “I am not quite certain
that I do.--But if you will describe the
sort of Novels which you _do_ approve,
I dare say it will give me a clearer idea.”
“Most willingly, Fair Questioner.--
The Novels which I approve are such
as display Human Nature with Grandeur
--such as shew her in the Sublimities
of intense Feeling--such as exhibit
the progress of strong Passion from
the first Germ of incipient Susceptibility
to the utmost Energies of Reason
half-dethroned,--where we see the
strong spark of Woman’s Captivations
elicit such Fire in the Soul of Man as

( 107 )

leads him--(though at the risk of some
Aberration from the strict line of Primitive
Obligations)--to hazard all, dare
all, atcheive all, to obtain her.--Such
are the Works which I peruse with
delight, & I hope I may say, with
amelioration. They hold forth the
most splendid Portraitures of high
Conceptions, Unbounded Veiws, illimitable
Ardour, indomptible Decision--
and even when the Event is mainly
anti-prosperous to the high-toned
Machinations of the prime Character,
the potent, pervading Hero of the
Story, it leaves us full of Generous
Emotions for him;--our Hearts are
paralized--. T’were Pseudo-Philosophy
to assert that we do not feel more
enwraped by the brilliancy of his
Career, than by the tranquil & morbid
Virtues of any opposing Character.
Our approbation of the Latter is but

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Eleemosynary.--These are the Novels
which enlarge the primitive Capabilities
of the Heart, & which it cannot impugn
the Sense or be any Dereliction of the
character, of the most anti-puerile
Man, to be conversant with.”--“If
I understand you aright--said Charlotte
--our taste in Novels is not at all
the same.” And here they were obliged
to part--Miss D. being too much tired
of them all, to stay any longer.--The
truth was that Sir Edw: whom circumstances
had confined very much to one
spot had read more sentimental Novels
than agreed with him. His fancy had
been early caught by all the impassioned,
& most exceptionable parts of
Richardsons; & such Authors as have
since appeared to tread in Richardson’s
steps, so far as Man’s determined
pursuit of Woman in defiance of every
opposition of feeling & convenience is

( 109 )

concerned, had since occupied the
greater part of his literary hours, &
formed his Character.--With a perversity
of Judgement, which must be
attributed to his not having by Nature
a very strong head, the Graces, the
Spirit, the Sagacity, & the Perseverance,
of the Villain of the Story outweighed
all his absurdities & all his
Atrocities with Sir Edward. With him,
such Conduct was Genius, Fire & Feeling.
--It interested & inflamed him;
& he was always more anxious for its
Success & mourned over its Discomfitures
with more Tenderness than c^d
ever have been contemplated by the
Authors.--Though he owed many of
his ideas to this sort of reading, it were
unjust to say that he read nothing
else, or that his Language were not
formed on a more general Knowledge of
modern Literature.--He read all the

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Essays, Letters, Tours & Criticisms of
the day--& with the same ill-luck
which made him derive only false Principles
from Lessons of Morality, &
incentives to Vice from the History of
it’s Overthrow, he gathered only hard
words & involved sentences from the
style of our most approved Writers.--

Sir Edw:’s great object in life was
to be seductive.--With such personal
advantages as he knew himself to possess,
& such Talents as he did also give
himself credit for, he regarded it as his
Duty.--He felt that he was formed to
be a dangerous Man--quite in the line
of the Lovelaces.--The very name of
Sir Edward he thought, carried some
degree of fascination with it.--To be
generally gallant & assiduous about
the fair, to make fine speeches to every
pretty Girl, was but the inferior part
of the Character he had to play.--

( 111 )

Miss Heywood, or any other young
Woman with any pretensions to Beauty,
he was entitled (according to his own
veiws of Society) to approach with
high Compliment & Rhapsody on the
slightest acquaintance; but it was
Clara alone on whom he had serious
designs; it was Clara whom he meant
to seduce.--Her seduction was quite
determined on. Her Situation in every
way called for it. She was his rival in
Lady D.’s favour, she was young,
lovely & dependant.--He had very
early seen the necessity of the case,
& had now been long trying with
cautious assiduity to make an impression
on her heart, and to undermine
her Principles.--Clara saw through
him, & had not the least intention of
being seduced--but she bore with him
patiently enough to confirm the sort
of attachment which her personal

( 112 )

Charms had raised.--A greater degree
of discouragement indeed would not
have affected Sir Edw:--. He was
armed against the highest pitch of
Disdain or Aversion.--If she could not
be won by affection, he must carry her
off. He knew his Business.--Already
had he had many Musings on the Subject.
If he _were_ constrained so to act,
he must naturally wish to strike out
something new, to exceed those who
had gone before him--and he felt a
strong curiosity to ascertain whether
the Neighbourhood of Tombuctoo
might not afford some solitary House
adapted for Clara’s reception;--but
the Expence alas! of Measures in that
masterly style was ill-suited to his
Purse, & Prudence obliged him to
prefer the quietest sort of ruin & disgrace
for the object of his Affections,
to the more renowned.--

( 113 )

CHAPTER 9.

One day, soon after Charlotte’s arrival
at Sanditon, she had the pleasure of
seeing just as she ascended from the
Sands to the Terrace, a Gentleman’s
Carriage with Post Horses standing at
the door of the Hotel, as very lately
arrived, & by the quantity of Luggage
taking off, bringing it might be hoped,
some respectable family determined on
a long residence.--Delighted to have
such good news for M^r & M^{rs} P., who
had both gone home some time before,
she proceeded for Trafalgar House with
as much alacrity as could remain, after
having been contending for the last
2 hours with a very fine wind blowing

( 114 )

directly on shore; but she had not
reached the little Lawn, when she saw
a Lady walking nimbly behind her at
no great distance; and convinced that
it could be no acquaintance of her
own, she resolved to hurry on & get
into the House if possible before her.
But the Stranger’s pace did not allow
this to be accomplished;--Charlotte
was on the steps & had rung, but the
door was not opened, when the other
crossed the Lawn;--and when the
Servant appeared, they were just
equally ready for entering the House.
--The ease of the Lady, her “How do
you do Morgan?--” & Morgan’s Looks
on seeing her, were a moment’s astonishment
--but another moment brought
M^r P. into the Hall to welcome the
Sister he had seen from the Draw^g
room, and she was soon introduced to
Miss Diana Parker. There was a great

( 115 )

deal of surprise but still more pleasure
in seeing her.--Nothing c^d be kinder
than her reception from both Husband
and Wife. “How did she come? & with
whom?--And they were so glad to find
her equal to the Journey!--And that
she was to belong to _them_, was a thing
of course.” Miss Diana P. was about
4 & 30, of middling height & slender;--
delicate looking rather than sickly;
with an agreable face, & a very animated
eye;--her manners resembling
her Brother’s in their ease & frankness,
though with more decision & less mildness
in her Tone. She began an account
of herself without delay.--Thanking
them for their Invitation, but “_that_
was quite out of the question, for they
were all three come, & meant to get
into Lodgings & make some stay.”--
“All three come!--What!--Susan &
Arthur!--Susan able to come too!--

( 116 )

This was better & better.” “Yes--
we are actually all come. Quite unavoidable.
--Nothing else to be done.
--You shall hear all about it.--But
my dear Mary, send for the Children;--
I long to see them.”--“And how
has Susan born the Journey?--& how
is Arthur?--& why do not we see him
here with you?”--“Susan has born
it wonderfully. She had not a wink
of sleep either the night before we set
out, or last night at Chichester, and as
this is not so common with her as with
_me_, I have had a thousand fears for
her--but she has kept up wonderfully.
--had no Hysterics of consequence
till we came within sight of poor old
Sanditon--and the attack was not very
violent--nearly over by the time we
reached your Hotel--so that we got
her out of the Carriage extremely well,
with only M^r Woodcock’s assistance--

( 117 )

& when I left her she was directing the
Disposal of the Luggage, & helping old
Sam uncord the Trunks.--She desired
her best Love, with a thousand regrets
at being so poor a Creature that she
c^d not come with me. And as for poor
Arthur, he w^d not have been unwilling
himself, but there is so much Wind
that I did not think he c^d safely
venture,--for I am _sure_ there is Lumbago
hanging about him--and so I
helped him on with his great Coat
& sent him off to the Terrace, to take
us Lodgings.--Miss Heywood must
have seen our Carriage standing at
the Hotel.--I knew Miss Heywood the
moment I saw her before me on the
Down.--My dear Tom I am glad to
see you walk so well. Let me feel
your Ancle.--That’s right; all right
& clean. The play of your Sinews a
_very_ little affected:--barely perceptible.

( 118 )

--Well--now for the explanation
of my being here.--I told you in my
Letter, of the two considerable Families,
I was hoping to secure for you--
the West Indians, & the Seminary.--”
Here M^r P. drew his Chair still nearer
to his Sister, & took her hand again
most affectionately as he answered
“Yes, Yes;--How active & how
kind you have been!”--“The Westindians,
she continued, whom I look
upon as the _most_ desirable of the two
--as the Best of the Good--prove to
be a M^{rs} Griffiths & her family. I know
them only through others.--You must
have heard me mention Miss Capper,
the particular friend of _my_ very particular
friend Fanny Noyce;--now,
Miss Capper is extremely intimate with
a M^{rs} Darling, who is on terms of constant
correspondence with M^{rs} Griffiths
herself.--Only a _short_ chain, you see,

( 119 )

between us, & not a Link wanting.
M^{rs} G. meant to go to the Sea, for her
Young People’s benefit--had fixed on
the coast of Sussex, but was undecided
as to the where, wanted something
Private, & wrote to ask the opinion of
her friend M^{rs} Darling.--Miss Capper
happened to be staying with M^{rs} D.
when M^{rs} G.’s Letter arrived, & was
consulted on the question; _she_ wrote
the same day to Fanny Noyce and
mentioned it to her--& Fanny all alive
for _us_, instantly took up her pen &
forwarded the circumstance to me--
except as to _Names_--which have but
lately transpired.--There was but _one_
thing for _me_ to do.--I answered
Fanny’s Letter by the same Post &
pressed for the recommendation of
Sanditon. Fanny had feared your
having no house large enough to receive
such a Family.--But I seem to be

( 120 )

spinning out my story to an endless
length.--You see how it was all
managed. I had the pleasure of hearing
soon afterwards by the same simple
link of connection that Sanditon _had
been_ recommended by M^{rs} Darling, &
that the Westindians were very much
disposed to go thither.--This was the
state of the case when I wrote to you;
--but two days ago;--yes, the day
before yesterday--I heard again from
Fanny Noyce, saying that _she_ had
heard from Miss Capper, who by a
Letter from M^{rs} Darling understood
that M^{rs} G.-- has expressed herself in
a letter to M^{rs} D. more doubtingly on
the subject of Sanditon.--Am I clear?
--I would be anything rather than not
clear.”--“Oh! perfectly, perfectly.
Well?”--“The reason of this hesitation,
was her having no connections in
the place, & no means of ascertaining

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that she should have good accomodations
on arriving there;--and she was
particularly careful & scrupulous on all
those matters more on account of a
certain Miss Lambe a young Lady
(probably a Neice) under her care, than
on her own account or her Daughters.
--Miss Lambe has an immense fortune
--richer than all the rest--& very
delicate health.--One sees clearly
enough by all this, the _sort_ of Woman
M^{rs} G. must be--as helpless & indolent,
as Wealth & a Hot Climate are apt to
make us. But we are not all born to
equal Energy.--What was to be done?
--I had a few moments indecision;--
Whether to offer to write to _you_,--or
to M^{rs} Whitby to secure them a House?
--but neither pleased me.--I hate to
employ others, when I am equal to act
myself--and my conscience told me
that this was an occasion which called

( 122 )

for me. Here was a family of helpless
Invalides whom I might essentially
serve.--I sounded Susan--the same
Thought had occurred to her.--Arthur
made no difficulties--our plan was
arranged immediately, we were off
yesterday morn^g at 6--, left Chichester
at the same hour today--& here we
are.--” “Excellent!--Excellent!--
cried M^r Parker.--Diana, you are unequal’d
in serving your friends & doing
Good to all the World.--I know nobody
like you.--Mary, my Love, is not she
a wonderful Creature?--Well--and
now, what House do you design to
engage for them?--What is the size
of their family?--” “I do not at all
know--replied his Sister--have not the
least idea;--never heard any particulars;
--but I am very sure that the
largest house at Sanditon cannot be
_too_ large. They are more likely to

( 123 )

want a second.--I shall take only one
however, & that, but for a week certain.
--Miss Heywood, I astonish you.--
You hardly know what to make of me.
--I see by your Looks, that you are
not used to such quick measures.”--
The words “Unaccountable Officiousness!
--Activity run mad!”--had just
passed through Charlotte’s mind--but
a civil answer was easy. “I dare say
I do look surprised, said she--because
these are very great exertions, & I know
what Invalides both you & your Sister
are.” “Invalides indeed.--I trust there
are not three People in England who
have so sad a right to that appellation!
--But my dear Miss Heywood, we are
sent into this World to be as extensively
useful as possible, & where some
degree of Strength of Mind is given, it
is not a feeble body which will excuse
us--or incline us to excuse ourselves.--

( 124 )

The World is pretty much divided
between the Weak of Mind & the Strong
--between those who can act & those
who can not, & it is the bounden Duty
of the Capable to let no opportunity of
being useful escape them.--My Sister’s
Complaints & mine are happily not
often of a Nature, to threaten Existence
_immediately_--& as long as we _can_
exert ourselves to be of use of others,
I am convinced that the Body is the
better, for the refreshment the Mind
receives in doing it’s Duty.--While
I have been travelling, with this object
in veiw, I have been perfectly well.”--
The entrance of the Children ended this
little panegyric on her own Disposition
--& after having noticed & caressed
them all,--she prepared to go.--“Cannot
you dine with us?--Is not it
possible to prevail on you to dine
with us?” was then the cry; and _that_

( 125 )

being absolutely negatived, it was
“And when shall we see you again?
and how can we be of use to you?”--
and M^r P. warmly offered his assistance
in taking the house for M^{rs} G.--“I
will come to you the moment I have
dined, said he, & we will go about
together.”--But this was immediately
declined.--“No, my dear Tom, upon
no account in the World, shall you stir
a step on any business of mine.--Your
Ancle wants rest. I see by the position
of your foot, that you have used it too
much already.--No, I shall go about
my House-taking directly. Our Dinner
is not ordered till six--& by that time
I hope to have completed it. It is
now only ½ past 4.--As to seeing _me_
again today--I cannot answer for it;
the others will be at the Hotel all the
Even^g, & delighted to see you at any
time, but as soon as I get back I shall

( 126 )

hear what Arthur has done about our
own Lodgings, & probably the moment
Dinner is over, shall be out again on
business relative to them, for we
hope to get into some Lodgings or
other & be settled after breakfast to-
morrow.--I have not much confidence
in poor Arthur’s skill for Lodging-
taking, but he seemed to like the commission.--”
“I think you are doing
too much, said M^r P. You will knock
yourself up. You sh^d not move again
after Dinner.” “No, indeed you should
not. cried his wife, for Dinner is such
a mere _name_ with you all, that it can
do you no good.--I know what your
appetites are.--” “My appetite is
very much mended I assure you lately.
I have been taking some Bitters of my
own decocting, which have done wonders.
Susan never eats I grant you--
& just at present _I_ shall want nothing;

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I never eat for about a week after
a Journey--but as for Arthur, he is
only too much disposed for Food. We
are often obliged to check him.”--
“But you have not told me any thing
of the _other_ Family coming to Sanditon,
said M^r P. as he walked with her to the
door of the House--the Camberwell
Seminary; have we a good chance of
_them_?” “Oh! Certain--quite certain.
--I had forgotten them for the
moment, but I had a letter 3 days ago
from my friend M^{rs} Charles Dupuis
which assured me of Camberwell. Camberwell
will be here to a certainty, &
very soon.--_That_ good Woman (I do
not know her name) not being so
wealthy & independant as M^{rs} G.--
can travel & chuse for herself.--I will
tell you how I got at _her_. M^{rs} Charles
Dupuis lives almost next door to a
Lady, who has a relation lately settled

( 128 )

at Clapham, who actually attends the
Seminary and gives lessons on Eloquence
and Belles Lettres to some of
the Girls.--I got that Man a Hare
from one of Sidney’s friends--and
he recommended Sanditon;--Without
_my_ appearing however--M^{rs} Charles
Dupuis managed it all.--”

( 129 )

CHAPTER 10.

It was not a week, since Miss Diana
Parker had been told by her feelings,
that the Sea Air w^d probably in her
present state, be the death of her, and
now she was at Sanditon, intending to
make some Stay, & without appearing
to have the slightest recollection of
having written or felt any such thing.--
It was impossible for Charlotte not to
suspect a good deal of fancy in such
an extraordinary state of health.--Disorders
& Recoveries so very much out
of the common way, seemed more like
the amusement of eager Minds in want
of employment than of actual afflictions
& releif. The Parkers, were no

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doubt a family of Imagination & quick
feelings--and while the eldest Brother
found vent for his superfluity of sensation
as a Projector, the Sisters were
perhaps driven to dissipate theirs in
the invention of odd complaints.--
The _whole_ of their mental vivacity was
evidently not so employed; Part was
laid out in a Zeal for being useful.--
It should seem that they must either
be very busy for the Good of others,
or else extremely ill themselves. Some
natural delicacy of Constitution in fact,
with an unfortunate turn for Medecine,
especially quack Medecine, had given
them an early tendency at various
times, to various Disorders;--the rest
of their sufferings was from Fancy,
the love of Distinction & the love of
the Wonderful.--They had Charitable
hearts & many amiable feelings--but
a spirit of restless activity, & the glory

( 131 )

of doing more than anybody else, had
their share in every exertion of Benevolence
--and there was Vanity in all
they did, as well as in all they endured.
--M^r & M^{rs} P. spent a great part of
the Even^g at the Hotel; but Charlotte
had only two or three veiws of Miss
Diana posting over the Down after
a House for this Lady whom she had
never seen, & who had never employed
her. She was not made acquainted
with the others till the following day,
when, being removed into Lodgings &
all the party continuing quite well,
their Brother & Sister & herself were
entreated to drink tea with them.--
They were in one of the Terrace Houses
--& she found them arranged for the
Even^g in a small neat Drawing room,
with a beautiful veiw of the Sea if they
had chosen it,--but though it had been
a very fair English Summer-day,--not

( 132 )

only was there no open window, but
the Sopha & the Table, & the Establishment
in general was all at the other
end of the room by a brisk fire.--
Miss P-- whom, remembering the three
Teeth drawn in one day, Charlotte
approached with a peculiar degree of
respectful Compassion, was not very
unlike her Sister in person or manner
--tho’ more thin & worn by Illness &
Medecine, more relaxed in air, & more
subdued in voice. She talked however,
the whole Evening as incessantly
as Diana--& excepting that she sat
with salts in her hand, took Drops two
or three times from one, out of the
several Phials already at home on the
Mantlepeice,--& made a great many
odd faces & contortions, Charlotte could
perceive no symptoms of illness which
she, in the boldness of her own good
health, w^d not have undertaken to

( 133 )

cure, by putting out the fire, opening
the Window, & disposing of the Drops
& the salts by means of one or the
other. She had had considerable curiosity
to see M^r Arthur Parker; & having
fancied him a very puny, delicate-
looking young Man, the smallest very
materially of not a robust Family,
was astonished to find him quite as
tall as his Brother & a great deal
Stouter--Broad made & Lusty--and
with no other look of an Invalide, than
a sodden complexion.--Diana was evidently
the cheif of the family; principal
Mover & Actor;--she had been
on her Feet the whole Morning, on
M^{rs} G.’s business or their own, & was
still the most alert of the three.--
Susan had only superintended their
final removal from the Hotel, bringing
two heavy Boxes herself, & Arthur had
found the air so cold that he had

( 134 )

merely walked from one House to the
other as nimbly as he could,--& boasted
much of sitting by the fire till he had
cooked up a very good one.--Diana,
whose exercise had been too domestic
to admit of calculation, but who, by
her own account, had not once sat
down during the space of seven hours,
confessed herself a little tired. She
had been too successful however for
much fatigue; for not only had she
by walking & talking down a thousand
difficulties at last secured a proper
House at 8^g p^r week for M^{rs} G.--;
she had also opened so many Treaties
with Cooks, Housemaids, Washerwomen
& Bathing Women, that M^{rs} G.
would have little more to do on her
arrival, than to wave her hand &
collect them around her for choice.--
Her concluding effort in the cause, had
been a few polite lines of Information

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to M^{rs} G. herself--time not allowing
for the circuitous train of intelligence
which had been hitherto kept up,--
and she was now regaling in the delight
of opening the first Trenches of an
acquaintance with such a powerful discharge
of unexpected Obligation. M^r
& M^{rs} P.-- & Charlotte had seen two
Post chaises crossing the Down to the
Hotel as they were setting off,--a joyful
sight--& full of speculation.--The
Miss Ps-- & Arthur had also seen
something;--they could distinguish
from their window that there _was_ an
arrival at the Hotel, but not its amount.
Their Visitors answered for two Hack-
Chaises.--Could it be the Camberwell
Seminary?--No--No.--Had there been
a 3^d carriage, perhaps it might; but
it was very generally agreed that two
Hack chaises could never contain a
Seminary.--M^r P. was confident of

( 136 )

another new Family.--When they were
all finally seated, after some removals
to look at the Sea & the Hotel, Charlotte’s
place was by Arthur, who was
sitting next to the Fire with a degree
of Enjoyment which gave a good deal
of merit to his civility in wishing her
to take his Chair.--There was nothing
dubious in her manner of declining it,
and he sat down again with much
satisfaction. She drew back her Chair
to have all the advantage of his Person
as a screen, & was very thankful for
every inch of Back & Shoulders beyond
her pre-conceived idea. Arthur was
heavy in Eye as well as figure, but by
no means indisposed to talk;--and
while the other 4 were cheifly engaged
together, he evidently felt it no penance
to have a fine young Woman next to
him, requiring in common Politeness
some attention--as his B^r, who felt

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the decided want of some motive for
action, some Powerful object of animation
for him, observed with considerable
pleasure.--Such was the influence of
Youth & Bloom that he began even to
make a sort of apology for having a
Fire. “We sh^d not have one at home,
said he, but the Sea air is always
damp. I am not afraid of any thing so
much as Damp.--” “I am so fortunate,
said C. as never to know whether
the air is damp or dry. It has always
some property that is wholesome &
invigorating to me.--” “_I_ like the
Air too, as well as any body can;
replied Arthur, I am very fond of
standing at an open Window when
there is no Wind--but unluckily a
Damp air does not like _me_.--It gives
me the Rheumatism.--You are not
rheumatic I suppose?--” “Not at
all.” “That’s a great blessing.--But

( 138 )

perhaps you are nervous.” “No--
I beleive not. I have no idea that I
am.”--“_I_ am very nervous.--To say
the truth Nerves are the worst part of
my Complaints in _my_ opinion.--My
Sisters think me Bilious, but I doubt
it.--” “You are quite in the right, to
doubt it as long as you possibly can,
I am sure.--” “If I were Bilious, he
continued, you know Wine w^d disagree
with me, but it always does me good.--
The more Wine I drink (in Moderation)
the better I am.--I am always best of
an Even^g.--If you had seen me today
before Dinner, you w^d have thought
me a very poor Creature.--” Charlotte
could beleive it--. She kept her
countenance however, & said--“As
far as I can understand what nervous
complaints are, I have a great idea of
the efficacy of air & exercise for them:
--daily, regular Exercise;--and I

( 139 )

should recommend rather more of it
to _you_ than I suspect you are in the
habit of taking.”--“Oh! I am very
fond of exercise myself--he replied--
& mean to walk a great deal while I
am here, if the Weather is temperate.
I shall be out every morning before
breakfast--& take several turns upon
the Terrace, & you will often see me
at Trafalgar House.”--“But you do
not call a walk to Traf: H. much
exercise?--” “Not, as to mere distance,
but the Hill is so steep!--
Walking up that Hill, in the middle of
the day, would throw me into such a
Perspiration!--You would see me all
in a Bath by the time I got there!--
I am very subject to Perspiration, and
there cannot be a surer sign of Nervousness.--”
They were now advancing so
deep in Physics, that Charlotte veiwed
the entrance of the Servant with the

( 140 )

Tea things, as a very fortunate Interruption.
--It produced a great & immediate
change. The young Man’s
attentions were instantly lost. He took
his own Cocoa from the Tray,--which
seemed provided with almost as many
Teapots &c as there were persons in
company, Miss P. drinking one sort of
Herb-Tea & Miss Diana another, &
turning completely to the Fire, sat
coddling & cooking it to his own
satisfaction & toasting some Slices of
Bread, brought up ready-prepared in
the Toast rack--and till it was all
done, she heard nothing of his voice
but the murmuring of a few broken
sentences of self-approbation & success.
--When his Toils were over however,
he moved back his Chair into as gallant
a Line as ever, & proved that he had
not been working only for himself,
by his earnest invitation to her to take

( 141 )

both Cocoa & Toast.--She was already
helped to Tea--which surprised him--
so totally self-engrossed had he been.--
“I thought I should have been in
time, said he, but cocoa takes a great
deal of Boiling.”--“I am much obliged
to you, replied Charlotte--but I _prefer_
Tea.” “Then I will help myself, said
he.--A large Dish of rather weak Cocoa
every evening, agrees with me better
than any thing.”--It struck her however,
as he poured out this rather weak
Cocoa, that it came forth in a very
fine, dark coloured stream--and at
the same moment, his Sisters both
crying out--“Oh! Arthur, you get
your Cocoa stronger & stronger every
Even^g”--, with Arthur’s somewhat
conscious reply of “T_is_ rather stronger
than it should be tonight”--convinced
her that Arthur was by no means so
fond of being starved as they could

( 142 )

desire, or as he felt proper himself.--
He was certainly very happy to turn
the conversation on dry Toast, & hear
no more of his sisters.--“I hope you
will eat some of this Toast, said he,
I reckon myself a very good Toaster;
I never burn my Toasts--I never put
them too near the Fire at first--& yet,
you see, there is not a Corner but
what is well browned.--I hope you
like dry Toast.”--“With a reasonable
quantity of Butter spread over it, very
much--said Charlotte--but not otherwise.--”
“No more do I--said he
exceedingly pleased--We think quite
alike there.--So far from dry Toast
being wholesome, _I_ think it a very
bad thing for the Stomach. Without
a little butter to soften it, it hurts the
Coats of the Stomach. I am sure it
does.--I will have the pleasure of
spreading some for you directly--&

( 143 )

afterwards I will spread some for myself.
--Very bad indeed for the Coats
of the Stomach--but there is no convincing
_some_ people.--It irritates &
acts like a nutmeg grater.--” He could
not get the command of the Butter
however, without a struggle; His
Sisters accusing him of eating a great
deal too much, & declaring he was
not to be trusted;--and he maintaining
that he only eat enough to secure
the Coats of his Stomach;--& besides,
he only wanted it now for Miss Heywood.
--Such a plea must prevail, he
got the butter & spread away for her
with an accuracy of Judgement which
at least delighted himself; but when
her Toast was done, & he took his own
in hand, Charlotte c^d hardly contain
herself as she saw him watching his
sisters, while he scrupulously scraped
off almost as much butter as he put

( 144 )

on, & then seize an odd moment for
adding a great dab just before it went
into his Mouth.--Certainly, M^r Arthur
P.’s enjoyments in Invalidism were
very different from his sisters--by no
means so spiritualized.--A good deal
of Earthy Dross hung about him.
Charlotte could not but suspect him
of adopting that line of Life, principally
for the indulgence of an indolent
Temper--& to be determined on
having no Disorders but such as called
for warm rooms & good Nourishment.
--In one particular however, she soon
found that he had caught something
from _them_.--“What! said he--Do you
venture upon two dishes of strong
Green Tea in one Even^g?--What
Nerves you must have!--How I envy
you.--Now, if _I_ were to swallow only
one such dish--what do you think it’s
effect would be upon me?--” “Keep

( 145 )

you awake perhaps all night”--replied
Charlotte, meaning to overthrow his
attempts at Surprise, by the Grandeur
of her own Conceptions.--“Oh! if
that were all!--he exclaimed.--No--
it acts on me like Poison and w^d
entirely take away the use of my right
side, before I had swallowed it 5
minutes.--It sounds almost incredible
--but it has happened to me so often
that I cannot doubt it.--The use of
my right Side is entirely taken away
for several hours!” “It sounds rather
odd to be sure--answered Charlotte
coolly--but I dare say it would be
proved to be the simplest thing in the
World, by those who have studied
right sides & Green Tea scientifically
& thoroughly understand all the possibilities
of their action on each other.”
--Soon after Tea, a Letter was brought
to Miss D. P-- from the Hotel.--

( 146 )

“From M^{rs} Charles Dupuis--said she.
--some private hand.”--And having
read a few lines, exclaimed aloud
“Well, this is very extraordinary!
very extraordinary indeed!--That both
should have the same name.--Two M^{rs}
Griffiths!--This is a Letter of recommendation
& introduction to me, of
the Lady from Camberwell--& _her_
name happens to be Griffiths too.--”
A few lines more however, and the
colour rushed into her Cheeks, & with
much Perturbation she added--“The
oddest thing that ever was!--a Miss
Lambe too!--a young Westindian of
large Fortune.--But it _cannot_ be the
same.--Impossible that it should be
the same.”--She read the Letter aloud
for comfort.--It was merely to “introduce
the Bearer, M^{rs} G.-- from Camberwell,
& the three young Ladies
under her care, to Miss D. P.’s notice.--

( 147 )

M^{rs} G.-- being a stranger at Sanditon,
was anxious for a respectable Introduction--
& M^{rs} C. Dupuis therefore,
at the instance of the intermediate
friend, provided her with this Letter,
knowing that she c^d not do her dear
Diana a greater kindness than by
giving her the means of being useful.--
M^{rs} G.’s cheif solicitude w^d be for the
accomodation & comfort of one of the
young Ladies under her care, a Miss
Lambe, a young W. Indian of large
Fortune, in delicate health.”--“It was
very strange!--very remarkable!--
very extraordinary” but they were
all agreed in determing it to be
_impossible_ that there should not be
two Families; such a totally distinct
set of people as were concerned in the
reports of each made that matter quite
certain. There _must_ be two Families.
--Impossible to be otherwise. “Impossible”

( 148 )

& “Impossible”, was repeated
over & over again with great
fervour.--An accidental resemblance
of Names & circumstances, however
striking at first, involved nothing really
incredible--and so it was settled.--
Miss Diana herself derived an immediate
advantage to counterbalance her
Perplexity. She must put her shawl
over her shoulders, & be running about
again. Tired as she was, she must
instantly repair to the Hotel, to investigate
the truth & offer her services.--

( 149 )

CHAPTER 11

It would not do.--Not all that the
whole Parker race could say among
themselves, c^d produce a happier catastrophe
than that the Family from
Surry & the Family from Camberwell
were one & the same.--The rich Westindians,
& the young Ladies Seminary
had all entered Sanditon in those two
Hack chaises. The M^{rs} G. who in her
friend M^{rs} Darling’s hands, had wavered
as to coming & been unequal to the
Journey, was the very same M^{rs} G.
whose plans were at the same period
(under another representation) perfectly
decided, & who was without
fears or difficulties.--All that had the

( 150 )

appearance of Incongruity in the reports
of the two, might very fairly be
placed to the account of the Vanity,
the Ignorance, or the blunders of the
many engaged in the cause by the
vigilance & caution of Miss Diana P--.
_Her_ intimate friends must be officious
like herself, & the subject had supplied
Letters & Extracts & Messages enough
to make everything appear what it
was not. Miss D. probably felt a little
awkward on being first obliged to
admit her mistake. A long Journey
from Hampshire taken for nothing--
a Brother disappointed--an expensive
House on her hands for a week, must
have been some of her immediate
reflections--& much worse than all
the rest, must have been the sort of
sensation of being less clear-sighted &
infallible than she had beleived herself.
--No part of it however seemed

( 151 )

to trouble her long. There were so
many to share in the shame & the
blame, that probably when she had
divided out their proper portions to
M^{rs} Darling, Miss Capper, Fanny
Noyce, M^{rs} C. Dupuis & M^{rs} C. D’s
Neighbour, there might be a mere
trifle of reproach remaining for herself.
--At any rate, she was seen all
the following morn^g walking about
after Lodgings with M^{rs} G.-- as alert
as ever.--M^{rs} G. was a very well-
behaved, genteel kind of Woman, who
supported herself by receiving such
great girls & young Ladies, as wanted
either Masters for finishing their
Education, or a home for beginning
their Displays.--She had several more
under her care than the three who were
now come to Sanditon, but the others
all happened to be absent.--Of these
three, & indeed of all, Miss Lambe was

( 152 )

beyond comparison the most important
& precious, as she paid in proportion
to her fortune.--She was about 17,
half Mulatto, chilly & tender, had a
maid of her own, was to have the best
room in the Lodgings, & was always of
the first consequence in every plan
of M^{rs} G.--The other Girls, two Miss
Beauforts were just such young Ladies
as may be met with, in at least one
family out of three, throughout the
Kingdom; they had tolerable complexions,
shewey figures, an upright
decided carriage & an assured Look;--
they were very accomplished & very
Ignorant, their time being divided
between such pursuits as might attract
admiration, & those Labours & Expedients
of dexterous Ingenuity, by
which they could dress in a stile much
beyond what they _ought_ to have
afforded; they were some of the first

( 153 )

in every change of fashion--& the
object of all, was to captivate some
Man of much better fortune than their
own.--M^{rs} G. had preferred a small,
retired place, like Sanditon, on Miss
Lambe’s account--and the Miss Bs--,
though naturally preferring any thing
to Smallness & Retirement, yet having
in the course of the Spring been involved
in the inevitable expence of
six new Dresses each for a three days
visit, were constrained to be satisfied
with Sanditon also, till their circumstances
were retreived. There, with
the hire of a Harp for one, & the
purchase of some Drawing paper for
the other & all the finery they could
already command, they meant to be
very economical, very elegant & very
secluded; with the hope on Miss Beaufort’s
side, of praise & celebrity from
all who walked within the sound of

( 154 )

her Instrument, & on Miss Letitia’s,
of curiosity & rapture in all who came
near her while she sketched--and to
Both, the consolation of meaning to be
the most stylish Girls in the Place.--
The particular introduction of M^{rs} G.
to Miss Diana Parker, secured them
immediately an acquaintance with the
Trafalgar House-family, & with the
Denhams;--and the Miss Beauforts
were soon satisfied with “the Circle in
which they moved in Sanditon” to
use a proper phrase, for every body
must now “move in a Circle”,--to the
prevalence of which rototory Motion,
is perhaps to be attributed the Giddiness
& false steps of many.--Lady
Denham had other motives for calling
on M^{rs} G. besides attention to the
Parkers.--In Miss Lambe, here was
the very young Lady, sickly & rich,
whom she had been asking for; & she

( 155 )

made the acquaintance for Sir Edward’s
sake, & the sake of her Milch
asses. How it might answer with
regard to the Baronet, remained to be
proved, but as to the Animals, she
soon found that all her calculations of
Profit w^d be vain. M^{rs} G. would not
allow Miss L. to have the smallest
symptom of a Decline, or any complaint
which Asses milk c^d possibly
releive. “Miss L. was under the constant
care of an experienced Physician;
--and his Prescriptions must be their
rule”--and except in favour of some
Tonic Pills, which a Cousin of her own
had a Property in, M^{rs} G. did never
deviate from the strict Medecinal page.
--The corner house of the Terrace was
the one in which Miss D. P. had the
pleasure of settling her new friends, &
considering that it commanded in front
the favourite Lounge of all the Visitors

( 156 )

at Sanditon, & on one side, whatever
might be going on at the Hotel, there
c^d not have been a more favourable
spot for the seclusions of the Miss
Beauforts. And accordingly, long
before they had suited themselves
with an Instrument, or with Drawing
paper, they had, by the frequency of
their appearance at the low Windows
upstairs, in order to close the blinds,
or open the Blinds, to arrange a flower
pot on the Balcony, or look at nothing
through a Telescope, attracted many
an eye upwards, & made many a
Gazer gaze again.--A little Novelty
has a great effect in so small a place;
the Miss Beauforts, who w^d have been
nothing at Brighton, could not move
here without notice;--and even M^r
Arthur Parker, though little disposed
for supernumerary exertion, always
quitted the Terrace, in his way to his

( 157 )

Brothers by this corner House, for the
sake of a glimpse of the Miss Bs--,
though it was ½ a q^r of a mile round
about, & added two steps to the ascent
of the Hill.

( 159 )

CHAPTER 12.

Charlotte had been 10 days at
Sanditon without seeing Sanditon
House, every attempt at calling on
Lady D. having been defeated by
meeting with her beforehand. But
now it was to be more resolutely
undertaken, at a more early hour,
that nothing might be neglected of
attention to Lady D. or amusement to
Charlotte.--“And if you should find
a favourable opening my Love, said
M^r P. (who did not mean to go with
them)--I think you had better mention
the poor Mullins’s situation, &
sound her Ladyship as to a Subscription
for them. I am not fond of

( 160 )

charitable subscriptions in a place of
this kind--It is a sort of tax upon all
that come--Yet as their distress is
very great & I almost promised the
poor Woman yesterday to get something
done for her, I beleive we must
set a subscription on foot--& therefore
the sooner the better,--& Lady
Denham’s name at the head of the
List will be a very necessary beginning.
--You will not dislike speaking to her
about it, Mary?”--“I will do whatever
you wish me, replied his Wife--
but you would do it so much better
yourself. I shall not know what to
say.”--“My dear Mary, cried he, it is
impossible you can be really at a loss.
Nothing can be more simple. You
have only to state the present afflicted
situation of the family, their earnest
application to me, & my being willing
to promote a little subscription for

( 161 )

their releif, provided it meet with her
approbation.--” “The easiest thing
in the World--cried Miss Diana Parker
who happened to be calling on them
at the moment--. All said & done, in
less time than you have been talking
of it now.--And while you are on the
subject of subscriptions Mary, I will
thank you to mention a very melancholy
case to Lady D, which has been
represented to me in the most affecting
terms.--There is a poor Woman in
Worcestershire, whom some friends of
mine are exceedingly interested about,
& I have undertaken to collect whatever
I can for her. If you w^d mention
the circumstance to Lady Denham!--
Lady Denham _can_ give, if she is
properly attacked--& I look upon her
to be the sort of Person who, when
once she is prevailed on to undraw her
Purse, would as readily give 10^{Gs} as

( 162 )

5.--And therefore, if you find her in
a Giving mood, you might as well
speak in favour of another Charity
which I & a few more, have very
much at heart--the establishment of
a Charitable Repository at Burton on
Trent.--And then,--there is the family
of the poor Man who was hung last
assizes at York, tho’ we really _have_
raised the sum we wanted for putting
them all out, yet if you _can_ get a
Guinea from her on their behalf, it
may as well be done.--” “My dear
Diana! exclaimed M^{rs} P.-- I could no
more mention these things to Lady
D.-- than I c^d fly.”--“Where’s the
difficulty?--I wish I could go with
you myself--but in 5 minutes I must
be at M^{rs} G.-- to encourage Miss
Lambe in taking her first Dip. She is
so frightened, poor Thing, that I promised
to come & keep up her Spirits,

( 163 )

& go in the Machine with her if she
wished it--and as soon as that is over,
I must hurry home, for Susan is to
have Leaches at one oclock--which
will be a three hours business,--therefore
I really have not a moment to
spare--besides that (between ourselves)
I ought to be in bed myself
at this present time, for I am hardly
able to stand--and when the Leaches
have done, I dare say we shall both
go to our rooms for the rest of the
day.”--“I am sorry to hear it, indeed;
but if this is the case I hope Arthur
will come to us.”--“If Arthur takes
my advice, he will go to bed too, for
if he stays up by himself, he will
certainly eat & drink more than he
ought;--but you see Mary, how impossible
it is for me to go with you to
Lady Denham’s.”--“Upon second
thoughts Mary, said her husband, I

( 164 )

will not trouble you to speak about
the Mullins’s.--I will take an opportunity
of seeing Lady D. myself.--_I_
know how little it suits you to be
pressing matters upon a Mind at all
unwilling.”--_His_ application thus withdrawn,
his sister could say no more in
support of hers, which was his object,
as he felt all their impropriety & all
the certainty of their ill effect upon
his own better claim.--M^{rs} P. was
delighted at this release, & set off very
happy with her friend & her little
girl, on this walk to Sanditon House.
--It was a close, misty morn^g, & when
they reached the brow of the Hill,
they could not for some time make out
what sort of Carriage it was, which
they saw coming up. It appeared
at different moments to be everything
from the Gig to the Pheaton,--from
one horse to 4; & just as they were

( 165 )

concluding in favour of a Tandem,
little Mary’s young eyes distinguished
the Coachman & she eagerly called
out, “T’is Uncle Sidney Mama, it is
indeed.” And so it proved.--M^r Sidney
Parker driving his Servant in a very
neat Carriage was soon opposite to
them, & they all stopped for a few
minutes. The manners of the Parkers
were always pleasant among themselves
--& it was a very friendly meeting
between Sidney & his sister in law,
who was most kindly taking it for
granted that he was on his way to
Trafalgar House. This he declined
however. “He was just come from
Eastbourne, proposing to spend two or
three days, as it might happen, at
Sanditon--but the Hotel must be his
Quarters--He was expecting to be
joined there by a friend or two.”--
The rest was common enquiries &

( 166 )

remarks, with kind notice of little
Mary, & a very well-bred Bow &
proper address to Miss Heywood on
her being named to him--and they
parted, to meet again within a few
hours.--Sidney Parker was about 7 or
8 & 20, very good-looking, with a
decided air of Ease & Fashion, and
a lively countenance.--This adventure
afforded agreable discussion for some
time. M^{rs} P. entered into all her
Husband’s joy on the occasion, &
exulted in the credit which Sidney’s
arrival w^d give to the place. The
road to Sanditon H. was a broad,
handsome, planted approach, between
fields, & conducting at the end of a
q^r of a mile through second Gates
into the Grounds, which though not
extensive had all the Beauty & Respectability
which an abundance of
very fine Timber could give.--These

( 167 )

Entrance Gates were so much in a
corner of the Grounds or Paddock, so
near one of its Boundaries, that an
outside fence was at first almost pressing
on the road--till an angle _here_,
& a curve _there_ threw them to a
better distance. The Fence was a
proper Park paling in excellent condition;
with clusters of fine Elms, or
rows of old Thorns following its line
almost every where.--_Almost_ must be
stipulated--for there were vacant spaces
--& through one of these, Charlotte as
soon as they entered the Enclosure,
caught a glimpse over the pales of
something White & Womanish in the
field on the other side;--it was a something
which immediately brought Miss
B. into her head--& stepping to the
pales, she saw indeed--& very decidedly,
in spite of the Mist; Miss B--
seated, not far before her, at the foot

( 168 )

of the bank which sloped down from
the outside of the Paling & which a
narrow Path seemed to skirt along;--
Miss Brereton seated, apparently very
composedly--& Sir E. D. by her side.--
They were sitting so near each other
& appeared so closely engaged in gentle
conversation, that Ch. instantly felt she
had nothing to do but to step back
again, & say not a word.--Privacy
was certainly their object.--It could
not but strike her rather unfavourably
with regard to Clara;--but hers
was a situation which must not be
judged with severity.--She was glad
to perceive that nothing had been discerned
by M^{rs} Parker; If Charlotte
had not been considerably the tallest of
the two, Miss B.’s white ribbons might
not have fallen within the ken of _her_
more observant eyes.--Among other
points of moralising reflection which

( 169 )

the sight of this Tete a Tete produced,
Charlotte c^d not but think of the
extreme difficulty which secret Lovers
must have in finding a proper spot for
their stolen Interveiws.--Here perhaps
they had thought themselves so perfectly
secure from observation!--the
whole field open before them--a steep
bank & Pales never crossed by the foot
by Man at their back--and a great
thickness of air, in aid.--Yet here, she
had seen them. They were really ill-
used.--The House was large & handsome;
two Servants appeared, to
admit them, & every thing had a
suitable air of Property & Order.--
Lady D. valued herself upon her liberal
Establishment, & had great enjoyment
in the order and the Importance of her
style of living.--They were shewn into
the usual sitting room, well-proportioned
& well-furnished;--tho’ it saw

( 170 )

Furniture rather originally good &
extremely well kept, than new or
shewey--and as Lady D. was not
there, Charlotte had leisure to look
about, & to be told by M^{rs} P. that the
whole-length Portrait of a stately
Gentleman, which placed over the
Mantlepeice, caught the eye immediately,
was the picture of Sir H. Denham
--and that one among many
Miniatures in another part of the
room, little conspicuous, represented
M^r Hollis.--Poor M^r Hollis!--It was
impossible not to feel him hardly used;
to be obliged to stand back in his own
House & see the best place by the fire
constantly occupied by Sir H. D.

NOTES

Page 1

4. being induced by Business to quit the high road, & (toil
_erased_) attempt a very rough Lane, were overturned
_substituted for_ were on quitting the high road, & toiling
up a very long steep hill through a rough Lane, overturned

8. half rock, half sand _added above the line_

10. a House _for_ the House

11. first required to take that direction _for_ required to turn
that way

15. to pass by _for_ to pass two minutes before

He had grumbled & shaken his shoulders so much indeed, and
pitied & cut his Horses so sharply _for_ grumbling so much
indeed, & looking so black, & pitying & cutting his Horses
so much

Page 2

6. not his Masters _written above_ not the Gentleman’s own (_but
only_ not _is erased_)

7. had _added above line_

indisputably become considerably worse _for_ indisputably &
evidently become much worse

10. passed _erased before_ left behind

expressing (saying _erased_) with a most intelligent (and
seeming _erased_) portentous countenance _written over_ as
Bad as it had been before the Change seemed to say

13. could safely proceed _for_ had ever thought of proceeding

16. Travellors beleived found themselves at first only shaken &
bruised _erased before_ Gentleman

18. at first _added above line_

21. soon _added above line_

22. in a few moments _erased after_ of it _and added above line
after_ obliged

Page 3

2. self _erased before_ congratulations _and_ to his wife &
himself _added above line_

13. the _for_ a _before_ neat-looking

14. appearing _erased after_ Cottage

15. peeping out from among wood, and _erased before_ romantically

among wood _added above line_

20. neither _over_ & not _erased_

Page 4

1. from _erased after_ coming

2. had _for_ having

15. & very _erased after_ salutation

19. assistance _for_ service in any way

21. one or two of _added above line_

Page 5

5. best _over_ better to _erased_

8. a favourable _for_ the best possible

15. him _for_ any

his Partner _erased before_ if he

17. rather _added above line_

would prefer the attendance of his Partner _for_ would have
his Partner by preference (_Miss Austen neglected to alter_
would _to_ should)

20. can be with him _for_ will be there

Page 6

1. for _added above line before_ Excepting

12. though _over_ either _erased_

14. stay _added above line_

20. whether you may know it or not _added above line_

Page 7

3. only yesterday morn^g in London _added above line_

8. a _added above line before_ Partnership

15. with a good humoured smile _added above line_

20. this Parish _erased before_ Willingden

for having (I have _erased_) _over_ having _erased_

21. Sir _added above line, and erased, after_ lived here

22. Sir _erased after_ Man & Boy

I think I must have _known_ of such a person, at least I may
venture ] without ever hearing (and never heard before _written
above line and erased_) of the existence of such a person
before. I think I may venture (therefore _added above line
and erased_) at least (at least _added a second time, above
line, and erased_)--_all cancelled_

Page 8

3. To be sure _for_ Though to be sure

9. Sir _added above line_

12. and that _added above line before_ My Shepherd

14. peices _for_ bits

Page 9

10. last _added above line_

12. when _added above line_

was (being _erased_) in the _over_ in _erased_

14. One is never able to be complete anything (be _inadvertently
not erased_) _for_ Nothing able to be completed

16. you know _added above line_

17. and accordingly satisfying _for_ I satisfied

20. I _added above line_

Page 10

1. Scrape _for_ awkward Predicament

13. you know _added above line_

own _added above line_

17. air & _added above line before_ immersion

Page 11

8. service to you & this Lady _over_ use to service _erased_

15. it will be better for us _for_ we had better accept this kind
offer

16. he _erased before_ turned

18. in order _added above line_

21. rise to _added above line_

Page 12

3. home _added above line_

5. my _for_ the

9. itself _added above line_

11. the favourite spot _for_ the most favourite

13. favourite _erased before_ coast

14. promising to be the most chosen _for_ consequently the most
likely to be chosen

21. the wonder! _for_ amazing to me!

22. or Time _for_ & Time

Page 13

1. a Country _for_ any Country

2. sure to _added above line_

3. as I dare say you find _for_ I dare say you find it so

12. experiencing _for_ feeling

15. Nursery Grounds _for_ laying out Gardens

17. those regular _for_ the regular

19. who are a blessing everywhere, excite _for_ excite not only

21. and diffuse _for_ but diffuse

22. sort _for_ kind

Page 14

3. one _erased before_ place

9. totally _added above line_

16. must soon find themselves _for_ I have no doubt will find
themselves in the end

Page 15

10. One complete, measured _for_ a measured

13. saving a whole Mile _for_ that

19. lying, as it does _for_ situated

20. a bleak Moor _added above line_

Page 16

10. (pro _erased_) yeild _over_ grow _erased_

Page 17

1. Why, in truth Sir, I fancy _for_ I fancy, Sir

3. that line _for_ those lines

11. is quite of my opinion & thinks _for_ quite agrees with me in
thinking

15. (turning round towards _erased before_ (two

16. (who _erased_) followed _over_ attended _erased_

17. now seen _added above line_

Page 18

2. every thing that was proper _for_ & did what was proper

3. recommend _for_ enforce

10. the Carriage being now set up, was discovered to have received
such Injury _for_ it was now ascertained that the Carriage
was so much injured

14. therefore _added above line_

Page 19

3. For a whole fortnight the Travellors were fixed at Willingden
_for_ The Parkers were the Guests of the Heywoods a fortnight

4. M^r P.’s sprain proving (being _erased_) too serious for him
to move sooner _for_ The sprain was too serious for M^r
Parker to be sooner able to move sooner

13. equal goodwill _erased before_ unremitting

14. act & _erased before_ office

Page 20

3. on either _for_ in either

6. unfolded _for_ made known

8. for he was (being _erased_) _over_ was he was _erased_

10. his conversation _for_ he

11. unconsciously _erased after_ information

14. on _for_ in

20. quiet (simple _erased_) _added above line_

interesting only _erased after_ Village

consideration inhabited by one Family of consequence, his own,
of secondary _erased before_ pretensions

22. some _before_ accidental _erased, and restored above line_

Page 21

2. Land Holder _for_ Proprietor of the Land

3. becoming _for_ being

6. note _erased before_ young

Renown _for_ notoriety

13. of a respectable _over_ no Profession _erased_

21. former indeed _for_ Brothers in fact

Page 22

5. his ancle _for_ an ancle

19. prodigious _for_ great

22. last year _added above line_

Page 24

2. remained _for_ was

7. not only those of _added above line_

8. and _added above line before_ Home

9. also _erased before_ his Mine

10. his Occupation _added above line_

14. and _added above line before_ his endeavours

18. own _added above line before_ House

Page 25

1. air _erased after_ sea

4. _bracket erased after_ spirits

9. nearly _for_ almost

in every disorder _erased after_ infallible

11. In cases _erased after_ Disorder

12. they were equally sovereign _erased after_ Blood

They were _erased, and restored above line_

14. anti-bilious _added above line_

17. Nobody wanted Spirits, Nobody wanted Strength _for_ nor c^d
the most obstinate Cougher retain a cough there 4 & 20 hours

19. seemingly _added above line_

20. each (?) _erased before_ was wanted

Page 26

3. evidently _for_ palpably

7. they _erased before_ their

8. long _over_ very long _erased_

14. could carry _for_ conveyed

17. old _over_ ol _erased_

19. eldest _added above line_

Page 27

4. an occasional month _for_ a Summer occasionally

5. a _erased before_ symptoms

6. and _over_ to make _erased_

10. forbidding _erased before_ obliged

Page 28

1. give useful connections or _over_ lead them into respectable
Company _erased_

6. Daughter _for_ young Lady

13. under her Mother’s directions _for_ in acting for her Mother

15. & _erased before_ who

20. gratitude _for_ grateful feelings

Page 29

1. for her sisters & _over_ & everything else that _erased_

there _erased after_ Library

5. send _for_ recommend

get try (?) _added above line before_ Sanditon _and erased_

8. as _omitted_

9. 5 shillings _for_ one night

Page 31

16. facts _added above line_

Page 32

2. her history & her Character _for_ names & places, & some hints
of Character

(though given with the light touch of a very friendly hand)
_erased after_ Character

3. were _erased before_ served

4. Hill _for_ Pull

6. who _erased before_ with whom

15. quite _erased before_ an elderly

Page 33

22. her conduct _for_ it

Page 34

5. greatly _for_ much

8. a chearful, independant, valuable character _over_ to us
_erased_

10. may be entirely _for_ are to be cheifly

her want _for_ the want

16. truly admirable _for_ which one admires

Page 35

1. now & then, see things differently _for_ see things differently
now & then

3. you know _added above line_

7. wants of Society _for_ Social order

16. he had allowed them to be _for_ they c^d be

Page 36

1. these _for_ the

3. Cous _erased before_ Kindred

13. at hand to preserve their _over_ able by their vicinity, to
_erased_

19. always _erased before_ lived

20. very _erased before_ principally

Page 37

4. had he _for_ if he had

9. Lady D. has granted him _for_ he holds under Lady D--

10. we shall _over_ will _erased_

15. being _erased before_ having

the fairest _for_ a very fair

Page 38

1. and long & often enjoyed ] deprecating the idea of a Companion,
defying & I enjoying _erased_

4. on that head, she had been _erased after_ relations

6. House _for_ Hall

10. secure _for_ restore

17. Character _for_ young Woman

20. described _for_ delineated

(and not with _erased after_ described

Page 39

7. promptly & _added above line_

15. being in _erased before_ London

principally _added above line_

16. very _added above line_

there resident there _erased after_ Cousins

18. & whom she was determined to keep at a distance, she had _over_
she had _erased_

20. there _erased and restored above line_

Page 40

3. reputed _for_ proverbial

5. calling _for_ called

7. not _added above line_

9. all the _over_ great _erased_

10. which _is left ‘hanging’_

15. a _added above line before_ spy

17. persuaded _for_ induced

18. for the rest of her stay _added above line after_ home _and
erased after_ offer

20. a _added above line before_ very

Page 41

3. beyond her expectation _over_ were _erased_

22. a _added above line before_ situation

Page 42

3. merit (sweetness _erased_) _over_ unpretending manners _erased_

9. steady conduct _for_ good Judgement

unassuming _erased before_ gentle

18. having _for_ she had

19. she was become _erased before_ that Loveliness

Page 43

4. close by _for_ in front of

6. Orchard & Meadows _for_ Ground & Orchards

8. such a _over_ such any _erased_

11. old _added above line_

Page 44

4. you know _added above line_

8. Hill _for_ ascent

9. the heart of _erased before_ Sanditon

modern Sanditon _added above line_

we shall soon catch the roof of my new house; my real home
_erased before_ a beautiful Spot

16. & _added above line before_ without

Page 45

3. a little _for_ the little

4. & a Crescent is a building that always takes _erased after_ we
shall

6. very _erased before_ name

joined to the _over_ will give us choice of Lodgers _erased_

8. In a good Season _added above line before_ We

12. at it _added above line_

13. a great deal of _erased before_ something

19. in fact _added above line_

21. having _erased after_ without

the constant Eyesore of _added above line, and_ as an Eyesore
_erased after_ formalities

formalities _for_ formality

22. or the yearly nuisance of its _for_ or its occasional

Page 46

4. and _added above line before_ We _and erased_

now (_or_ here) _erased after_ well off

5. as ever we were _for_ as we used to be

13. on the Hill _added above line_

about us _erased before_ in the course

14. The Growth of my Plantations is a general astonishment _for_
My Plantations astonish everybody by their Growth

Page 47

6. as proud as can be _for_ so proud

7. How Grave she will walk about with it, and _for_ It will be
delightful to see her walking about with it, so gravely.--She
will

12. now _erased after_ bathe

18. at all _for_ as we did

19. those _for_ our

Page 48

5. with _added above line_

7. this Gutter _for_ this Pit

11. by (any _erased_) one _over_ if one _erased_

12. which do more mischief in a _over_ should pour through the
_erased_

13. when they do arise _over_ which do more mischeif _erased_

14. experiences _for_ knows

20. get (deal with _erased_) all our _erased before_ go

21. Stringer _for_ Salmon

Page 49

4. beyond a doubt _added above line_

6. Help _for_ encouragement

9. often wanted _for_ forgotten

15. old _erased before_ the Stringers

16. be _added above line before_ easily

17. I hope _erased after_ satisfied

19. & says _added above line_

21. out of _erased before_ left

Page 50

3. He pretends to advise ... Improvements _added between lines_

7. of & to us, all _for_ of his eldest B^r--& to his Eldest B^r &

8. Most Families ... to say anything _for_ A young Man of
Abilities & Address, & general ease of manner Miss H.-- who
says anything

12. In ours, it is Sidney; who is a _over_ Sidney is _erased_

14. and with great powers ... only fault _for_ very lively, very
pleasant--living very much in the World--& liked by every
body

16. I wish we may (I should _above line, erased_) _erased before_
He is here

20. fine thing for _for_ credit to

Page 51

7. neat _added above line_

8. original _erased before_ Sanditon

9. Hill _for_ Down

12. and whose Height ended in _for_ but whose Top was

13. overlooking the Sea _erased after_ Down

where ... looked for _added above line_

15. winding more obliquely _for_ wound

16. gave _for_ giving

18. formed _for_ forming

Page 52

1. delight _for_ great pleasure

6. were actually _erased before_ two Females

11. through the upper _for_ from the open

12. Blissful _for_ exhilarating

20. might _for_ must

Page 53

3. during _added above line_

4. Summer _for_ Season

6. and _for_ but

7. would not let them be _for_ c^d not bear to have them

8. the shore _added above line_

11. William _for_ old

14. at a Shoemaker’s _added above line_

15. This is new ... a month ago _added between lines_

Page 54

3. former Days _for_ old erection

9. (to be watched _above line_) by M^r Parker their d _erased
before_ by M^r P.

12. calculated _for_ reckoned

fewer _erased before_ and a smaller

17. --but there were the Sands _erased after_ dinner

But _added above line_

& the Terrace _added above line_

19. and the _added above line before_ Tide

20. half-Tide now _for_ half in

21. at _added above line before_ his own

22. at once _added above line_

Page 55

2. he _added above line before_ c^d almost

5. on the Down _for_ of any

was a light _for_ was an

6. standing in a _for_ separated from the Down only by a

7. a very young plantation round it _for_ very young plantations
over it

8. about _for_ not

9. the Cliff--which was _erased after_ brow of very _added above
line before_ lofty

11. short _added above line_

16. a little _for_ a small space

18. to _added above line before_ the Bathing

Page 56

6. ample, Venetian _added above line_

11. in Sunshine & Freshness _for_ under a Sunshiny Breeze

Page 57

7. But _added above line before_ Perhaps

8. I trust it may _for_ Not unlikely

16. say _for_ guess

Page 58

3. two _added above line_

7. frequently _added above line_

subject to a variety of very serious _for_ at times Martyrs to
very dreadful

Page 59

1. much _added above line_

20 _for_ 22

5. which is most unfortunate _erased after_ Profession

10. w^d appear by this letter to have been _for_ had been

14. began _for_ observed

Page 60

3. accomplishing between you _for_ bringing about

5. shew _for_ describe

10. at _for_ by _before_ your accident

16. hardly able to crawl from the (my _erased_) Bed to the Sofa
_erased after_ found me

suffering _added above line_

18. & hardly ... Sofa _added above line_

Page 61

9. use _for_ application

steadily _for_ well

11. six _for_ 4

Page 62

6. to be obtained _erased after_ releif

11. know where to apply _erased before_ could soon

Page 63

2. and _added before_ Six

3. 10 days together _over_ the last week have _erased_

so little _for_ a little

4. we _for_ I

9. accordingly _erased after_ drawn _and added above line_

14. trying to suppress (coughing _erased_) a cough _for_ sneezing

Page 64

4. & _for_ --

6. one _for_ that of

8. Girls _added above line_

12. But _added above line_

14. as he (concluded _erased_) finished (it _erased_) _for_ having
finished & refolded his Letter

Though I dare say _over_ I suppose if _erased_

15. w^d _erased after_ Sidney

16. extremely entertaining _for_ very amusing (to laugh at _above
line erased_)

17. & make us ... together _added above line_

18. by (_possibly_ for) myself, can see nothing (either _erased_)
in _for_ can see nothing in

19. either _added above line before_ very

22. in (advancing _erased_) promoting _for_ for

Page 65

5. extra _added above line_

10. quite _erased before_ astonished

13. It is really _erased before_ frightful

16. more _for_ most

17. to one’s imagination _erased after_ distressing

Page 66

7. own _for_ say

13. p (_i.e._ poor?) _erased before_ Arthur

22. idle & indolent _erased after_ 20

Page 67

3. any prospect _and_ (_above line_) the slightest plan _erased
before_ of engaging

Page 69

6. & _added above line before_ as quickly

9. Business _added above line_

12. Elderly _added above line_

Page 70

1. & _added above line before_ the Sands

4. the House _added above line_

6. her inner room _for_ the little inner parlour

7. Employment _for_ something better to do

14. such as these _erased after_ than

16. Brown _for_ Henderson

17. M _erased before_ Lieut:

Page 71

1. the List was not only _for_ it was not only a List

7. were an ever-ready consolation _for_ was an ever-present source
of Joy

8. without delay _for_ immediately

15. with all becoming alacrity _erased after_ List

16. busy in _for_ proceeding to

18. further _added above line_

21. smart Trinkets _for_ ornamented Combs

Page 72

7. she reflected _for_ began to feel

9. for her _added above line_

11. the very first Evening _for_ the first Evening of her arrival

She took up a Book; it happened to be a vol: of Camilla _for_
A vol: of Camilla happened to lie on the Counter

15. so, she turned from the Drawers of rings & Broches _for_ The
(Gl _erased_) Drawers of rings & Broches must be resisted

Page 73

3. & (had _erased_) been directed thence _for_ whence they were
directed

4. her having walked a good mile was _erased before_ Lady D.

20. you & make sure of your _for_ our good Neighbours, & be sure
of their

Page 74

3. very quietly _over_ without any other species of opposition
_erased_

11. She observed them well _added above line_

14. & _for_ a _after_ eye

18. being free-spoken _for_ free-speaking

19. about her _for_ in it

22. of welcome _for_ and interest

Page 75

1. was _for_ was was

9. a sweetly modest & yet naturally graceful _for_ a sweet modesty
yet natural gracefulness of

11. in _added above line after_ see

12. the _for_ as (?) _after_ only

13. whatever Heroine might be most beautiful & bewitching _for_
all the most beautiful & bewitching Heroines

16. on _for_ in _before_ Mrs. Whitby’s

17. was from _erased before_ might

Page 76

2, 3. Such _added above line before_ Poverty _and_ such _before_
Beauty

12. in _erased after_ herself

first _added above line before_ 5

14. be the Lot of _for_ await

21. Denham _for_ Denham’s

Page 77

17. very _erased after_ Very

21. spend _over_ are said _erased_

Page 78

2. fancy _for_ think

4. But _for_ And

about _erased after_ scatter

Page 79

6. at me _erased after_ smiles

7. I dare say _added above line_

8. may be _erased after_ Creature

17. as _added above line before_ all

Page 80

11. credit _for_ thanks

Page 81

6 & 8. _There is no doubt that Miss Austen wrote_ Chamber-House
_though it was printed_ Chamber-Horse _in the_ Memoir

14. my _added above line before_ poor

Page 82

4. & I _added above line_

Page 83

3. them _for_ others

8. settled with M^{rs} P.-- in _for_ in

9. when they came _erased after_ Drawing room

Page 84

13. very good _for_ pleasing

19. very _erased before_ fine

21. She _for_ Charlotte

Page 85

1. very _erased before_ agreable

2. suspicion _for_ notion

3. would arise _for_ might be implied

9. (simple _erased_) dull of Fancy _for_ Dull of Mind

ind _erased before_ careless

20. and _erased before_ followed

22. merely _for_ only

Page 86

2. altogether _added above line_

9. did him no harm _for_ did not hurt him

15. th _erased before_ all

Page 88

6. devoting himself entirely _erased after_ walk &

by _added above line before_ addressing

8. Stationing himself _added above line before_ Close

side _erased after_ by her

11. to _added above line before_ give

Page 90

18. there is _added above line_

to madden _for_ that maddens

Page 91

14. him _for_ Scott

19. truly _added above line before_ breathed

Page 92

20. of _erased before_ elicited

Page 93

19. had learnt to understand _for_ could comprehend

21. had _for_ could

22. or two on his side _over_ of two of Sir Edwards _erased_

Page 94

10. for _for_ of _before_ going

16. some _erased before_ looks

18. were to _erased before_ united

21. amused in considering _for_ deriving considerable amusement
from

22. between _for_ of

Page 95

2. strain of _added above line_

4. discourse _for_ manner of talking

5. immediately _erased after_ arm

6. felt (herself doing _erased_) that any notice from her was an
Honour _over_ had been long used to consider her honour
(_sic_) by any Notice she bestowed _erased_

9. or a natural _for_ & a

17. every way _added above line_

Page 96

5. with me _added above line_

Page 97

3. find fault with _for_ rip up the faults of

4. Nobody could live happier together than us _for_ We lived
perfectly happy together

12. Charlottes _for_ her

15. legal _erased before_ bequest

16. had _erased before_ only

18. it _for_ that

Page 98

4. bad _added above line_

14. a _added above line before_ very fine

15. in his _added above line before_ Address

18. directly saw that _for_ imagined

Page 99

14. to _repeated inadvertently_

quite _added above line after_ seemed

Page 100

2. real _and_ Landed or Funded _added above line_

7. And _for_ Now

12. get _written twice, one erased_

Page 101

10. was _erased before_ prepared

15. out _for_ the _before_ Bed rooms

Page 102

12. 3 or 4 _erased before_ either

Page 103

7. but _for_ & _before_ without

8. & only conscious that Lady D. was still talking _for_ while
Lady D. still talked

12. thoroughly mean. I had not expected any thing so bad _for_ much
worse than I expected--meaner--a great deal meaner. She is
very mean

14. His own kind Disposition makes him judge too well of others
_erased before_ His Judgement

15. always _added above line before_ to be trusted _and erased_

in his opinion of others _erased after_ trusted

16. in judging of others _erased after_ misleads him

22. Line _for_ respect

Page 104

7. not _added above line before_ tell

Page 105

2. till _for_ by

8. has been our Occupation _for_ we have been doing

Page 106

9. But _added above line before_ If

11. I dare say it will _for_ it will probably

18. incipient _added above line_

Page 107

2. aberration _for_ aberrations

4. atcheive _for_ encounter

6. delight _for_ ardour

10. indomptible _for_ unconquerable

12. high-toned Machinations of the _added above line_

21. any opposing Character _for_ his Rival

22. but _added above line before_ Eleemosynary

Page 108

5. anti-puerile _for_ sagacious

12. whom circumstances ... spot _added above line_

19. since _added above line before_ appeared

22. opposition of feeling & convenience _for_ thing

Page 109

8. of the _erased and restored above line_

which were the usual _erased before_ Villain

13. was always more anxious for its _for_ always wished it better

14. than it c^d ever have _erased after_ success

19. owed his _erased before_ read nothing

20. were _for_ was (_an interesting change_)

Page 110

8. our _replaced by_ the _and restored_

14. He felt that _added above line before_ He

16. The very name ... fascination with it _added between lines_

Page 111

2. any _for_ some _before_ pretensions

4. mistaken _erased before_ veiws

7. alone _added above line after_ Clara

Page 112

12. w^d have _erased before_ felt

a strong _for_ some

13. ascertain _for_ know

15. desola (?) _erased before_ solitary

20. st (_i.e._ stile?) _erased before_ sort

Page 113

15. having been _for_ being

Page 114

5. could be _for_ was

7. if possible before her _for_ before her if possible

8. did not allow _for_ was too brisk for

11. when _for_ as

17. a moment’s astonishment _for_ beginning to astonish Charlotte

22. a great deal of _above line_, great astonis (?) _and_ much
(_word illegible_) _erased_

Page 115

1. but still more _for_ & great

2. Nothing c^d be ... wife _added between lines_

4. How _erased and restored_ (_orig._ How had?)

6. that _added above line before_ she was

9. middling _for_ middle

10. delicate looking rather than sickly _for_ but rather delicate
than absolutely sickly

11. in her _erased before_ with an agreable

12. her manners resembling _for_ and her manners resembled

14. with _for_ there was _before_ more decision

16. without delay _for_ as soon as they were in the Drawing room

Page 116

1. better & better _for_ a great increase of the Happiness!

2. come _for_ here

3. Nothing else to be done _for_ A case of Necessity

12. which we spent _erased after_ night

and as _for_ but

13. so _added above line before_ common

that _erased before_ as

15. wonderfully _for_ charmingly

16. She _erased_ (_probably_) _before_ had no Hysterics

had _for_ and

17. within sight of _for_ to

18. the attack was not very violent--(quite over _erased_) nearly
over _for_ they were quite subsided

22. M^r Woodcock’s assistance _for_ young Woodcock’s help

Page 117

1. the Disposal of the Luggage _for_ where all the Luggage sh^d be
carried

3. Sam _for_ Hannah

unp (?) _erased before_ uncord

5. her _erased before_ being so poor

7. unwilling _for_ afraid for

11. about _for_ over

so I _for_ therefore

13. the Terrace, to _added above line_

16. I am sure _erased after_ Hotel

17. on the Down _for_ in the field

22. affected _for_ stiffened

Page 118

13. the Good _for_ two Excellent

14. know them only _for_ have only heard of them

15. You must _over_ My friend Fanny Noyce I dare say you _erased_

22. Only _for_ But

Page 119

5. where _for_ Spot

10. on _for_ as to _before_ the question

15. th _erased before_ Names

16. There _over_ The _erased_

21. to receive _for_ for

Page 120

4. simple link of connection _for_ connecting link

9. case _for_ question

10. but _for_ But _before_ two days

Page 121

2. there _added above line after_ arriving

7. than _erased after_ account

11. all _added above line before_ this

14. us _for_ the English _after_ to make

17. By _erased before_ Whether

or _added above line before_ to M^{rs}

18. to _over_ But _erased_

20. am equal _for_ ought

Page 122

1. me _for_ my Exertions

7. left Chichester _added above line_

11. & doing ... World _added above line_

Page 123

6. quick _for_ hasty

The part of the story which was really (most _above line_)
astonishing (to _above line_) Charlotte most, she could not
(_something above line, not legible_) noticed, she had just
given (?) it to herself _erased after_ measures

7. The words _for_ the words of

8. had just passed through Charlotte’s (brain _erased_) mind (and
collecting her Thoughts, she replied--“I dare say I _look_
surprised, for I feel so _erased_)--_all written over_ but
she could only give one explanation of the Amazement which she
c^d easily beleive to be painted in her face _erased_

10. that _erased before_ a civil

11. do _added above line before_ look

13. what Invalides ... are _for_ that both you & your Sister are
sad sufferers (Invalides _above line_) as to Health

16. appellation _for_ name

22. which will _erased before_ incline

Page 124

1. Howe (?) _erased before_ The World

4. not _for_ act

5. no opportunity of (doing _erased_) being useful (Good _erased_)
escape them _for_ none of their faculties be wasted

10. of use of _sic_

Page 125

4. warmly offered his assistance _for_ particularly urged for

11. of mine _added above line after_ business

19. today _for_ this Even^g

Page 126

5. some (other _erased_) Lodgings or other _for_ them

9. the commission _for_ to undertake it

13. No, indeed ... mere name _for_ Oh! as to your Sisters Dinner
cried his wife, that’s never any thing more than a name

21. I grant you _added above line_

Page 127

3. is only too much disposed for Food. We are often _over_ is much
more likely to eat too much than too little we _erased_ (eats
enormously. We _above line, erased_)

18. so _erased before_ independant

Page 128

1. who actually attends ... Eloquence and _for_ & attends some of
the girls of the Seminary, to give them lessons in Botany &

7. however _added above line after_ appearing

Page 129

1. ago _erased before_ since

Page 130

4. in _erased after_ sensation

6. for themselves _erased after_ complaints

9. a Zeal for _for_ the love of

11. or _written inadvertently for_ of _before_ others

16. an early _for_ a

at _over_ to _erased_

18. their sufferings _added above line_

20. Charitable _for_ benevolent

22. a spirit of restless activity _for_ the disease of activity

Page 131

2. Benevolence _for_ Health, as well as in every inaction of
Sickness

10. who _for_ whose _before_ had never

18. she found them _added above line_

21. it had been _added above line_

Page 132

2. the _added above line before_ Table

7. a peculiar degree _over_ the sort _erased_

14. excepting _for_ except

16. the several _for_ many

17. at home _for_ domesticated

20. symptoms _for_ signs

Page 133

3. the _added above line before_ salts

4. considerable _for_ great

6. him _added above line after_ fancied

12. excepting _erased before_ with

Page 134

3. much _for_ most

8. during _for_ for

15. also _added above line before_ opened

Page 135

3. been _added above line before_ hitherto

5. what she had done _erased before_ opening

12. seen something _for_ distinguished something of the matter

13. from their window _erased before_ they could _and added above
line after_ distinguish

15. its amount _for_ the amount of it

Page 136

2. some removals to look _for_ looking

5. next _for_ close

7. civility in wishing her to take his _over_ polite civil offer
offering her his own _erased_

10. much _for_ great

12. his Person as _for_ him for

15. Arthur was ... no means _for_ He had in every respect a heavy
Look.--Yet was not

18. cheifly _for_ very much

19. he _added above line before_ evidently

20. a fine young Woman _for_ a good-looking Girl (well (_word
illegible_) agreable _above line, erased_)

22. observed with much (gr. _above line, erased_) pleasure _erased
after_ B^r

Page 137

1. decided _for_ great

2. of _erased before_ some

Powerful object _over_ thing source _erased_

3. him _for_ Arthur

considerable _for_ no inconsiderable

5. began even to make _for_ made

13. & invigorating to _for_ for

15. well _for_ much _before_ as anybody

Page 138

3. To say the truth _for_ In my own opinion

5. in my (own _erased_) opinion _added above line_

15. thought _replaced by_ found _and restored above line_

Page 139

5. walk _for_ take

12. as to _for_ in

13. the Hill is so steep _for_ there is such a steep Hill to get
up to it

18. which _erased after_ Perspiration

21. th _erased before_ veiwed

Page 140

5. Pot _erased after_ Cocoa

13. brought up _added above line_

16. the murmuring of a few broken sentences of self-approbation &
success _for_ in a faint murmur, & a few broken sentences of
approbation of his own Doings & prosperity

19. into as gallant a Line as ever _for_ with quite as much
Gallantry as before

Page 141

9. rather _added above line after_ Dish of

13. very _added above line before_ fine

21. by no means _for_ not

Page 142

2. certainly _for_ evidently

4. of _for_ from _before_ his sisters

15. exceedingly pleased _for_ very much obliged

16. there _for_ upon that subject

17. a very bad thing _for_ is very bad

Page 143

5. It was rather amusing to see _erased after_ nutmeg grater

6. Glass _added above line after_ Butter _and erased_

8. accusing ... declaring ... maintaining _for_ accused ...
declared ... maintained

10. and _added above line after_ trusted

18. her Toast _for_ that

Toast _erased after_ own

20. herself _for_ himself

22. almost _added above line after_ scraped off

Page 144

7. Earthy Dross _for_ Earth

8. Charlotte could not but suspect him of adopting _over_ He
seemed of having (_originally_ to have) chosen _erased_

9. principally _for_ cheifly

Page 145

6. acts on me like Poison and _added above line_

9. sounds almost incredible _for_ is a sort of thing hardly to be
beleived

10. so often that I cannot doubt it _for_ three (several (?) _above
line_) times

21. Soon _for_ Very soon

Page 146

11. and the colour rushed _for_ brought the colour

13. much _for_ a good deal of

Page 147

16. determing _sic_

18. totally seperate & distinct _erased after_ Families

20. each _for_ them

Page 148

8. advantage _for_ Good

Page 149

2. race _for_ family

4. that _added above line before_ the Family

6. were _for_ being

13. period _for_ time

14. another representation _for_ other representations

Page 150

4. blunders _for_ mistakes

of some _erased before_ of the many

10. make everything appear what it was not _for_ throw everything
into confusion

15. expensive _added above line before_ House

21. beleived herself _for_ supposed

Page 151

6. M^{rs} C. D’s _for_ her

7. mere _for_ very _before_ trifle

8. of reproach _added above line_

9. all the following _for_ the next

14. receiving such _for_ giving a home to

15. as _for_ who

Page 152

17. such pursuits as _for_ the pursuit of what

18. general _erased before_ admiration

Page 153

8. Smallness & _added above line before_ Retirement

yet _added above line before_ having

9. in the course of the Spring _added above line_

10. some _erased before_ the inevitable

11. each _added above line after_ Dresses

20. secluded _for_ retired

21. from _for_ with _after_ celebrity

Page 154

12. in Sanditon _added above line_

14. to _added above line before_ the prevalence

22. been asking for _for_ wanted

Page 155

6. soon _added above line before_ found

7. be vain _for_ fail her

9. to have _erased before_ any complaint

12. & if M^{rs} G ever (_word illegible_) (could therefore _above
line_) _erased after_ Physician

Page 156

5. accordingly _for_ indeed

7. with _added above line before_ Drawing paper

14. an _added above line before_ eye

19. notice _for_ being noticed

20. by habit _erased after_ disposed

22. quitted _over_ went out at this end of _erased_

way _for_ walk

his Brothers _for_ Trafalgar H.

Page 157

3. round _added above line before_ about

Page 159

13. better _added above line before_ mention

Page 160

7. for them _erased after_ foot

17. be really at a loss _for_ really be at any loss

18. more _added above line before_ simple

20. earnest _added above line_

Page 161

6. that _written inadvertently for_ than

20. the _added above line before_ sort

21. is _for_ can be

Page 162

7. as to _erased before_ then

11. all _added above line before_ out

Page 163

2. all _erased before_ over

4. at one oclock _for_ today

7. besides _erased before_ between

13. to hear it _for_ for this

14. if this is the case _added above line_

Page 164

9. their impropriety _for_ the impropriety of them

17. not _added above line after_ they could

19. it _erased after_ up

Page 165

11. it was _over_ in the p _erased_

13. most kindly _added above line_

Page 166

7. with a decided air of Ease & Fashion, and a _over_ with a &
very much the Man of fashion in his air _erased_

15. road _for_ approach

at first only (by _above line_) _erased before_ a broad

16. approach _for_ road

17. (of about a q^r of a mile’s length _erased_) & conducting at
the end of a q^r of a mile through second Gates _over_ but
ending in about a q^r of a mile _erased_

19. into _for_ in

not _added above line before_ extensive

20. were _erased before_ had

22. These Entrance Gates ... Boundaries _for_ They were so narrow
at the Entrance

Page 167

3. an outside _for_ one outside

5. here, & a curve there threw _for_ in one, & a curve in the
other gave

6. to _added above line after_ them

9. clusters (rows _erased_) of fine Elms, or rows of old Thorns
_for_ vigorous Elms, or old Thorns & Hollies

10. line _for_ course

12. vacant spaces _for_ intervals

16. over the pales _erased after_ Womanish _and added above line
after_ glimpse

20. decidedly _for_ distinctly

21. in spite of the Mist _for_ though at some distance before her

Page 168

1. sloping _erased before_ bank

2. at (?) _erased after_ Paling &

3. Path _for_ track

8. that _erased after_ felt

12. her _added above line after_ strike

14. must not _for_ ought not to

16. of it _erased after_ nothing

discerned _for_ seen

17. If Charlotte had not been _over_ she was _erased_

19. or _erased after_ the two

Page 169

6. perfectly _added above line before_ secure

10. by Man _perhaps inadvertently for_ of Man

at their back _for_ behind them

12. by her _erased after_ ill-used

19. order & the (?) _added above line before_ Importance

Page 170

6. stately _for_ portly

12. represented _for_ was

15. own House _for_ room

PRINTED IN ENGLAND

AT THE OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS

Transcriber's Note

In this plain-text file the pagination and line breaks within the
novel have been retained, except that single words broken across
lines have been rejoined.

In the Notes to Page 21, Line 21, "Brothers in faet" has been changed
to "Brothers in fact".

No other changes have been made to spelling or punctuation.

*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRAGMENT OF A NOVEL WRITTEN BY JANE AUSTEN, JANUARY-MARCH 1817 ***

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