A Letter to Cassandra
by Jane Austen
My dear Cassandra,—This morning has been spent in doubt and deliberation, in forming plans and removing difficulties, for it ushered in the day with an event which I had not intended should take place so soon by a week. Frank has received his appointment on board the "Captain John Gore," commanded by the "Triton," and will therefore be obliged to be in town on Wednesday; and though I have every disposition in the world to accompany him on that day, I cannot go on the uncertainty of the Pearsons being at home, as I should not have a place to go to in case they were from home.
I wrote to Miss P. on Friday, and hoped to receive an answer from her this morning, which would have rendered everything smooth and easy, and would have enabled us to leave this place to-morrow,[23] as Frank, on first receiving his appointment, intended to do. He remains till Wednesday merely to accommodate me. I have written to her again to-day, and desired her to answer it by return of post. On Tuesday, therefore, I shall positively know whether they can receive me on Wednesday. If they cannot, Edward has been so good as to promise to take me to Greenwich on the Monday following, which was the day before fixed on, if that suits them better. If I have no answer at all on Tuesday, I must suppose Mary is not at home, and must wait till I do hear, as after having invited her to go to Steventon with me, it will not quite do to go home and say no more about it.
My father will be so good as to fetch home his prodigal daughter from town, I hope, unless he wishes me to walk the hospitals, enter at the Temple, or mount guard at St. James'. It will hardly be in Frank's power to take me home,—nay, it certainly will not. I shall write again as soon as I get to Greenwich.
What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps one in a continual state of inelegance.
If Miss Pearson should return with me, pray be careful not to expect too much beauty. I will not pretend to say that on a first view she quite answered the opinion I had formed of her. My mother, I am sure, will be disappointed if she does[24] not take great care. From what I remember of her picture, it is no great resemblance.
I am very glad that the idea of returning with Frank occurred to me; for as to Henry's coming into Kent again, the time of its taking place is so very uncertain that I should be waiting for dead men's shoes. I had once determined to go with Frank to-morrow and take my chance, etc., but they dissuaded me from so rash a step as I really think on consideration it would have been; for if the Pearsons were not at home, I should inevitably fall a sacrifice to the arts of some fat woman who would make me drunk with small beer.
Mary is brought to bed of a boy,—both doing very well. I shall leave you to guess what Mary I mean. Adieu, with best love to all your agreeable inmates. Don't let the Lloyds go on any account before I return, unless Miss P. is of the party. How ill I have written! I begin to hate myself.
Yours ever, J. Austen.
Vocabulary List
Here are important words and phrases from the letter. Try to guess the meaning first, then check the definitions.
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Ushered in
To mark the start of something new."The sunrise ushered in a new day."
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Disposed to
Inclined or willing to do something."He was disposed to help his friends whenever he could."
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Accommodate
To help someone by providing what they need or want; to do a favor for."The hotel tried to accommodate all of our requests."
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By return of post
An old-fashioned phrase meaning "by the next available mail delivery" or "as quickly as possible.""She sent a letter and asked for a reply by return of post."
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Prodigal
Wastefully extravagant; also, one who returns after a long absence. In this context, it is used humorously to mean "returning daughter.""After years away, the prodigal son returned home."
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Walk the hospitals
An old phrase for studying medicine by following doctors on their hospital rounds."His dream was to become a doctor and walk the hospitals in London."
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Mount guard at St. James'
To serve as a soldier, specifically as part of the guard at St. James's Palace in London."The new recruits hoped to get the chance to mount guard at St. James'."
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Waiting for dead men's shoes
An idiom meaning to wait for someone to die in order to inherit their position or property."He refused to wait for dead men's shoes and found his own job."
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Dissuaded
Persuaded someone not to do something."Her friends dissuaded her from making a foolish decision."
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Small beer
A type of beer with a low alcohol content. The phrase "make me drunk with small beer" is a humorous way of saying "take advantage of my innocence or inexperience.""He wasn't a strong drinker; a few cups of small beer would make him tipsy."
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Inmates
People living in the same house or institution. Here, it simply means "house guests.""The family and their guests were all agreeable inmates of the house."
Comprehension Questions
Answer these questions about the letter from Jane Austen.
- What is the main problem Jane Austen is trying to solve in this letter?
- Who is "Frank," and why must he leave on Wednesday?
- Why can't Jane go to town with Frank on Wednesday without a definite answer from the Pearsons?
- What is the purpose of the second letter she wrote to Miss P.?
- What does Jane Austen mean when she says she doesn't want to "walk the hospitals, enter at the Temple, or mount guard at St. James'"?
- What is the humorous reason Jane gives for why she shouldn't go to town without a place to stay?
- What is her advice about Miss Pearson's appearance, and why does she give it?