ページの画像
PDF
ePub

is also to be numbered amongst the warmest admirers of Miss Austen.

In her later years this gifted writer suffered from some internal malady, whose progress was probably hastened by certain family troubles which arose in the year 1816. Her spirits, however, were usually cheerful and buoyant, and the occasions were rare in which she indulged in complaints, or fell into listlessness and mental depression. As the body decayed, indeed, the mind seemed to acquire greater strength. By the beginning of March 1817 it was seen that she was seriously ill. The 17th was the last date upon which she engaged in literary labour. In May she removed to Winchester for the purpose of securing skilful medical advice and attention; but Mr. Lyford, a practitioner of great eminence, seems to have had little hope of her recovery from the first. It was hard to be cut off at the moment when success was crowning her labours, and when her genius had become a source of the purest joy and satisfaction to her. But she did not repine at the prospect of death, any more than she feared it. Here is a testimony to her worth and character, as well as an account of her last moments:-" "She was a humble believing Christian. Her life had been passed in the performance of home duties and the cultivation. of domestic affections, without any self-seeking or craving after applause. She had always sought, as it were by instinct, to promote the happiness of all who came within her influence, and doubtless she had her reward in the peace of mind which was granted her in her last days. Her sweetness of temper never failed. She was ever considerate and grateful to those who attended on her. At times when she felt rather better, her playfulness of spirit revived, and she amused them even in their sadness. Once, when she thought herself near her end, she said what she imagined might be her last words to those around her, and particularly thanked her sister-in-law for being with her, saying: 'You have always been a kind sister to me, Mary.' When the end at last came, she sank rapidly, and on being asked by her attendants whether there was anything that she wanted, her reply was, 'Nothing but death. These were her last words. In quietness and peace she breathed her last on the morning of July 18, 1817." Jane Austen was thus only in her forty-second year at the time of her death. She was laid to rest in Winchester Cathedral, almost opposite to the tomb of William of Wykeham. By all whom she left behind she was regarded with the tenderest affection, mingled with feelings of profound esteem for those talents which were now so clearly

demonstrated, and so conspicuous to the world at large. Her life was but a brief span, and had it been prolonged, a riper experience might have still further expanded powers which were justly the theme of unfeigned admiration on the part of all who accurately gauged their extent and character.

Nothing, probably, is more entertaining than details affecting the life and personal characteristics of distinguished authors; and fortunately we are not without some record of this nature in regard to Miss Austen. Her nephew says she was not highly accomplished according to the present standard, yet she read French with facility and knew something of Italian. She delighted in music, and was sufficiently proficient in it to sing, to her own accompaniment, many simple old songs now never heard. She had read much history, and even in her youth held strong political opinions, especially about the affairs of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. She vehemently defended Charles I., but rather, as Mr. Leigh thinks, from an impulse of feeling than from any inquiry into the evidences by which he and other characters with whom she sympathised must be condemned or acquitted. With regard to the politics of her own day, she took but little active interest in them, though "she probably shared the feeling of moderate Toryism which prevailed in her family." The Spectator and all the old periodicals were very familiar to her, and she was au courant with Richardson's novels down to the minutest detail. Cowper, Crabbe, and Johnson were her favourite authors, and she also derived great pleasure from the poetry of Sir Walter Scott. An account is given by one of her nieces of her treatment of children. "Her first charm to children was great sweetness of manner. She seemed to love you, and you loved her in return. This, as well as I can now recollect, was what I felt in my early days, before I was old enough to be amused by her cleverness. But soon came the delight of her playful talk. She could make everything amusing to a child. Then, as I got older, when cousins came to share the entertainment, she would tell us the most delightful stories, chiefly of Fairyland, and her fairies had all characters of their own. The tale was invented, I am sure, at the moment, and was continued for two or three days, if occasion served." Miss Austen had a keen sense of the ridiculous, which led her to play with all the commonplaces of everyday life, whether as regarded persons or things; but her emotions were too deep to allow her to make sport of life's serious duties or responsibilities, nor did she ever turn individuals into ridicule. Her fun was harmless and really amusing, never severely censorious, or, what is still

harder to bear, given to abuse by contemptuous ridicule. Two epigrams are preserved, which show that she could occasionally throw off her pleasantry in verse. Reading in the newspapers, on one occasion, of the marriage of a Mr. Gell to a Miss Gill, of Eastbourne, she wrote down the following impromptu :

At Eastbourne Mr. Gell, from being perfectly well,

Became dreadfully ill, for love of Miss Gill.

So he said, with some sighs, I'm the slave of your iis ;
Oh, restore, if you please, by accepting my ees.

A better impromptu still, perhaps, was the succeeding one, on the marriage of a middle-aged flirt with a Mr. Wake, whom, it was supposed, she would scarcely have accepted in her youth :

Maria, good-humoured, and handsome, and tall,

For a husband was at her last stake;
And having in vain danced at many a ball,

Is now happy to jump at a Wake.

Having seen the very popular Miss O'Neil as "Isabella," Miss Austen wrote to a friend: "I do not think she was quite equal to my expectation. I fancy I want something more than can be Acting seldom satisfies me. I took two pocket-handkerchiefs, but had very little occasion for either. She is an elegant creature, however, and hugs Mr. Young delightfully." The woman who could laugh and jest with the light-hearted was equally ready to comfort the unhappy or to nurse the sick. Ladies will be glad to know something of her appearance and dress. Mr. Austen Leigh reports that "in person she was very attractive; her figure was rather tall and slender, her step light and firm, and her whole appearance expressive of health and animation. In complexion she was a clear brunette, with a rich colour; she had full round cheeks, with mouth and nose small and well formed, bright hazel eyes, and brown hair, forming natural curls close round her face. If not so regularly handsome as her sister, yet her countenance had a peculiar charm of its own to the eyes of most beholders. At the time of which I am now writing she never was seen, either morning or evening, without a cap; I believe that she and her sister were generally thought to have taken to the garb of middle age earlier than their years or their looks required; and that, though remarkably neat in their dress as in all their ways, they were scarcely sufficiently regardful of the fashionable or the becoming." The portrait prefixed to the collected edition of Miss Austen's works, recently issued, exactly bears out this description. Except through the eye, however, the intellect of

this great writer is scarcely indicated in the portrait; and ladies of the present day, in observing the style of dress, will be apt to think that they have improved vastly, as regards grace and beauty, upon the costume in vogue with their grandmothers.

The "Letters of Jane Austen," recently edited by Lord Brabourne, add very little knowledge of a personal character to that we already enjoyed. Nor are the letters themselves valuable from the literary point of view, and if Jane Austen were now living she would probably be extremely angry at their publication. If anything could damage the fame of a writer already well established it would be the issue of such works of supererogation as that undertaken by Lord Brabourne. There are, perhaps, twenty pages in the two volumes issued by his lordship which are either amusing or valuable, as illustrating Jane Austen's character and epistolary skill; but as the world is so very busy, and has so many important things to attend to, it could well have spared the remainder.

But it is now time that we gave a taste of the quality of Jane Austen's writings. Several allusions have already been made to their humour, and we will endeavour to justify them by a quotation from "Emma." It concerns that very voluble lady, Miss Bates, and is in its way as excellent a bit of comedy as could well be found :

Miss Bates and Miss Fairfax, escorted by the two gentlemen, walked into the room; and Mrs. Elton seemed to think it as much her duty as Mrs. Weston's to receive them. Her gestures and movements might be understood by any one who looked on like Emma; but her words, everybody's words, were soon lost under the incessant flow of Miss Bates, who came in talking, and had not finished her speech under many minutes after her being admitted into the circle at the fire. As the door opened she was heard

"So very obliging of you !—no rain at all. Nothing to signify. I do not care for myself. Quite thick shoes. And Jane declares--Well!" (as soon as she was within the door), "Well! this is brilliant, indeed! This is admirable! Excellently contrived, upon my word. Nothing wanting. Could not have imagined it. So well lighted up! Jane, Jane, look! did you ever see anything? Oh! Mr. Weston, you must really have had Aladdin's lamp. Good Mrs. Stokes would not know her own room again. I saw her as I came in; she was standing in the entrance. Oh, Mrs. Stokes,' said I, but I had not time for more."

[ocr errors]

She was now met by Mrs. Weston.

Very well, I thank you, ma'am. I hope you are quite well. Very happy to hear it. So afraid you might have a headache! sceing you pass by so often, and knowing how much trouble you must have. Delighted to hear it, indeed! Ah! dear Mrs. Elton, so obliged to you for the carriage; excellent time; Jane and I quite ready. Did not keep the horses a moment. Most comfortable carriage. Oh and I am sure our thanks are due to you, Mrs. Weston, on that score. Mrs. Elton had most kindly sent Jane a note, or we should have been.

[ocr errors]

But two such offers in one day! Never were such neighbours. I said to my mother, Upon my word, ma'am.' Thank you, my mother is remarkably well. Gone to Mr. Woodhouse's. I made her take her shawl-for the evenings are not warm-her large new shawl, Mrs. Dixon's wedding present. So kind of her to think of my mother! Bought at Weymouth, you know; Mr. Dixon's choice. There were three others, Jane says, which they hesitated about some time. Colonel Campbell rather preferred an olive.-My dear Jane, are you sure you did not wet your feet? It was but a drop or two, but I am so afraid; but Mr. Frank Churchill was so extremely-and there was a mat to step upon. I shall never forget his extreme politeness. Oh! Mr. Frank Churchill, I must tell you my mother's spectacles have never been in fault since; the rivet never came out again. My mother often talks of your good-nature: does not she, Jane? Do not we often talk of Mr. Frank Churchill? Ah! here's Mrs. Woodhouse. Dear Mrs. Woodhouse, how do you do? Very well, I thank you, quite well. This is meeting quite in Fairyland. Such a transformation! Must not compliment, I know" (eyeing Emma most complacently)—"that would be rude ; but upon my word, Mrs. Woodhouse, you do look-how do you like Jane's hair? You are a judge. She did it all herself. Quite wonderful how she does her hair! No hairdresser from London, I think, could—Ah ! Dr. Hughes, I declare— and Mrs. Hughes. Must go and speak to Dr. and Mrs. Hughes for a moment. How do you do? How do you do? Very well, I thank you. This is delightful, is it not? Where is dear Mr. Richard? Oh, there he is. Don't disturb him. Much better employed talking to the young ladies. How do you do, Mr. Richard? I saw you the other day as you rode through the town. Mrs. Otway, I protest! and good Mr. Otway, and Miss Otway, and Miss Caroline. Such a host of friends! And Mr. George and Mr. Arthur! How do you do? How do you all do? Quite well, I am much obliged to you. Never better. Don't I hear another carriage? Who can this be? Very likely the worthy Coles. Upon my word, this is charming, to be standing about among such friends! And such a noble fire! I am quite roasted. No coffee, I thank you, for me; never take coffee. A little tea, if you please, sir, by-and-by. No hurry. Oh! here it comes. Everything so good!"

This scene occurred at a ball. When supper was announced, Miss Bates resumed her inconsequent eloquence, and it continued without interruption until her being seated at table and taking up her spoon.

"Jane, Jane, my dear Jane, where are you? Here is your tippet. Mrs. Weston begs you to put on your tippet. She says she is afraid there will be draughts in the passage, though everything has been done-one door nailed upquantities of matting-my dear Jane, indeed you must. Mr. Churchill, oh! you are too obliging! How well you put it on!-so gratified! Excellent dancing, indeed!-Yes, my dear, I ran home, as I said I should, to help grandmamma to bed, and got back again, and nobody missed me. I set off without saying a word, just as I told you. Grandmamma was quite well, had a charming evening with Mr. Woodhouse, a vast deal of chat, and backgammon. Tea was made downstairs, biscuits and baked apples and wine before she came away : amazing luck in some of her throws and she inquired a great deal about you, how you were amused, and who were your partners. Oh!' said I, 'I shall not forestall Jane; I left her dancing with Mr. George Otway; she will love to

« 前へ次へ »