Miss Austen - Gill Hornby Page 0,54

“Well then.” At once the journey home lost its urgency. “Perhaps my ‘Sonnet to Autumn’ is most appropriate.” James settled down and began.

“Nymph of the straw-crowned hat, & kirtle pale,

Mild Autumn come, and cheer thy longing Swain;

Whether thou pleased survey’st the yellow plain

Bend in light currents to the Western gale…”

And Cassy’s thoughts, so recently calmed, stirred again—rose up and overwhelmed her. What next? she asked herself as the sonnet trundled on. What came next in her tortuous journey? Where was life taking her now?

12

Paragon, Bath

7 May 1801

My dear Eliza,

My mother and I are arrived in Bath—you no doubt want to congratulate us on that towering achievement—and as for our failure to stop off in Kintbury, there is no need to chide us, for we chide ourselves quite enough. Our excuse is that The Journey itself was our master; The Journey decreed that it should last but a day and we humble passengers had no strength left to argue. Pleasant though it would have been to be with the beloved Fowle family, we too were keen to get to our destination.

Thank you for your sympathies, but, having begun life as a shock to which I should never become accustomed, our departure from Steventon came almost as relief. And for that, as you so rightly predicted, I can thank your sister. Though her overt elation did not ease our moment of loss, Mary’s keen delight to get her feet through the door, propel ours out of it and rob us of all worldly possessions in the process, was such that the end could not come quick enough. We surrendered as soon as we could. I hope that they are all as happy there as she is expecting. There is no doubt my brother will prove a fine parson to the parish, and the house has already proved itself a good one for children. James-Edward will soon get his pony. And Anna does love the place so—the poor mite may there at last feel at home in her own family.

As for Bath—I cannot share my parents’ high expectations, but then they are so very exalted I am not sure who could. Mr. and Mrs. G. A. are determined on a glorious retirement, with as much fine company and good health as a person can cope with, while we young ladies are promised to be met with splendid suitors in an endless array. We shall see. But should that all happen, I give you fair warning: I shall ignore all evidence of character or appearance or the good of our families and instead plump at once for the richest. I intend then to become so horribly spoiled and affected that you, poor humble Eliza, cannot hope ever to hear from me again.

In the meantime, we have been here three days and I have yet to meet a gentleman below the age of one hundred. And so far, even the city itself is toying with my affections. Its stone is refusing to glow in warm sunlight; instead it glowers darkly through a horrible fog. But I must give it time—not least because I have no choice in the matter. My future is here now, and I must make of it what I can.

There is at least the great distraction of getting settled to consume me. We are on the hunt for more permanent lodgings, which we hope to find soon. Perhaps then this loud city will feel more like a natural setting for us. And after that comes the first of our Great Summer Schemes, and we will, with Cowper’s crowds “impatient of dry land, agree, With one consent to rush into the sea.” Can you believe that these gay footloose creatures are in fact your old friends the Austens of Hampshire? Well then, nor yet can I.

You are kind to inquire so solicitously about my dear Cassy. While the world has moved on from her loss to other stories, it seems that you and I alone are left guarding her grief. I can offer the comfort that leaving our home has not caused her particular distress, but then I can remove it at once with my own reading: my sister’s unhappiness is such that mere place no longer matters at all. My mother’s hope that she will come out of it here and take to society is, I fear, unfounded. Yes, she still dresses in mourning, makes no more than the required effort with her appearance … You will have her ear, when she