LETTERS OF JANE AUSTEN
Martha and I dined yesterday at Deane to
meet the Powletts and Tom Chute, which we did
not fail to do. Mrs. Powlett was at once expensively
and nakedly dressed; we have had the satisfaction
of estimating her lace and her muslins;
and she said too little to afford us much other
amusement.
Mrs. John Lyford is so much pleased with the state of widowhood as to be going to put in for being a widow again; she is to marry a Mr. Fendall, a banker in Gloucester, a man of very good fortune, but considerably older than herself, and with three little children. Miss Lyford has never been here yet; she can come only for a day, and is not able to fix the day. I fancy Mr. Holder will have the farm, and without being obliged to depend on the accommodating spirit of Mr. William Portal; he will probably have it for the remainder of my father’s lease. This pleases us all much better than its falling into the hands of Mr. Harwood or Farmer Twitchen. Mr. Holder is to come in a day or two to talk to my father on the subject, and then John Bond’s interest will not be forgotten.
I have had a letter to-day from Mrs. Cooke. Mrs. Laurel is going to be married to a Mr. Hinchman, a rich East Indian. I hope Mary
will be satisfied with this proof of her cousin’s
