Page:Jane Austen (Sarah Fanny Malden 1889).djvu/209

Chapter XI.

Illness and death.

Emma was the last of her works which Jane Austen lived to see published; and, in spite of the compliments she received upon it, and the pleasure they gave her, its publication had sad associations for her. Henry Austen's illness, already mentioned, had begun while his sister was busy bringing out the novel, and it had been a very sudden and serious one. At first Jane was alone with him, but, as the danger increased with alarming rapidity, she sent for the other members of the family. They all arrived as quickly as was possible in those days when locomotion was so difficult; but Henry Austen was at death's door before they could get to him, and for many days he lay between life and death, although he recovered eventually. The strain and anxiety told much upon Jane, and she was still in a very low nervous state when fresh trouble came upon her family. Henry who had tried several professions, and had been unable to establish himself in any, had for some time past been partner in a bank, which now broke: many of the Austen family besides himself were involved in the loss. Any family trouble was always deeply felt by Jane,