Complete Works of Jane Austen

by Jane Austen

  FINIS

  MEMOIRS OF MR. CLIFFORD

  An Unfinished Tale

  TO CHARLES JOHN AUSTEN ESQRE

  Sir,

  Your generous patronage of the unfinished tale, I have already taken the Liberty of dedicating to you, encourages me to dedicate to you a second, as unfinished as the first.

  I am Sir with every expression

  of regard for you and yr noble

  Family, your most obedt

  &c. &c. . . .

  THE AUTHOR

  MEMOIRS OF MR. CLIFFORD.

  Mr Clifford lived at Bath; and having never seen London, set off one Monday morning determined to feast his eyes with a sight of that great Metropolis. He travelled in his Coach and Four, for he was a very rich young Man and kept a great many Carriages of which I do not recollect half. I can only remember that he had a Coach, a Chariot, a Chaise, a Landeau, a Landeaulet, a Phaeton, a Gig, a Whisky, an Italian Chair, a Buggy, a Curricle & a wheelbarrow. He had likewise an amazing fine stud of Horses. To my knowledge he had six Greys, 4 Bays, eight Blacks and a poney.

  In his Coach & 4 Bays Mr Clifford sate forward about 5 o’clock on Monday Morning the 1st of May for London. He always travelled remarkably expeditiously and contrived therefore to get to Devizes from Bath, which is no less than nineteen miles, the first Day. To be sure he did not Set in till eleven at night and pretty tight work, it was as you may imagine.

  However when he was once got to Devizes he was determined to comfort himself with a good hot Supper and therefore ordered a whole Egg to be boiled for him and his Servants. The next morning he pursued his Journey and in the course of 3 days hard labour reached Overton. where he was seized with a dangerous fever the Consequence of too violent Excercise.

  Five months did our Hero remain in this celebratcd City under the care of its no less celebrated Physician, who at length compleatly cured him of his troublesome Desease.

  As Mr Clifford still continued very weak, his first Day’s Journey carried him only to Dean Gate. where he remained a few Days and found himself much benefited by the change of Air.

  In easy Stages he proceeded to Basingstoke. One day Carrying him to Clarkengreen, the next to Worting, the 3d to the bottom of Basingstoke Hill, and the fourth, to Mr Robins’s. ...

  FINIS

  THE BEAUTIFUL CASSANDRA

  DEDICATED BY PERMISSION TO MISS AUSTEN.

  Dedication.

  Madam

  You are a Phoenix. Your taste is refined, your Sentiments are noble, and your Virtues innumerable. Your Person is lovely, your Figure, elegant, and your Form, magestic. Your Manners are polished, your Conversation is rational and your appearance singular. If therefore the following Tale will afford one moment’s amusement to you, every wish will be gratified of

  Your most obedient

  humble servant

  THE AUTHOR

  Chapter the First

  Cassandra was the Daughter and the only Daughter of a celebrated Millener in Bond Street. Her father was of noble Birth, being the near relation of the Dutchess of —— —’s Butler.

  Chapter the 2d

  When Cassandra had attained her 16th year, she was lovely and amiable and chancing to fall in love with an elegant Bonnet, her Mother had just compleated bespoke by the Countess of —— — she placed it on her gentle Head and walked from her Mother’s shop to make her Fortune.

  Chapter the 3d

  The first person she met, was the Viscount of —— — a young Man, no less celebrated for his Accomplishments and Virtues, than for his Elegance and Beauty. She curtseyed and walked on.

  Chapter the 4th

  he then proceeded to a Pastry-cooks where she devoured six ices, refused to pay for them, knocked down the Pastry Cook and walked away.

  Chapter the 5th

  She next ascended a Hackney Coach and ordered it to Hampstead, where she was no sooner arrived than she ordered the Coachman to turn round and drive her back again.

  Chapter the 6th

  Being returned to the same spot of the same Street she had sate out from, the Coachman demanded his Pay.

  Chapter the 7th

  She searched her pockets over again and again; but every search was unsuccessfull. No money could she find. The man grew peremptory. She placed her bonnet on his head and ran away.

  Chapter the 8th

  Thro’ many a street she then proceeded and met in none the least Adventure till on turning a Corner of Bloomsbury Square, she met Maria.

  Chapter the 9th

  Cassandra started and Maria seemed surprised; they trembled, blushed, turned pale and passed each other in a mutual silence.

  Chapter the 10th

  Cassandra was next accosted by her freind the Widow, who squeezing out her little Head thro’ her less window, asked her how she did? Cassandra curtseyed and went on.

  Chapter the 11th

  A quarter of a mile brought her to her paternal roof in Bond Street from which she had now been absent nearly 7 hours.

  Chapter the 12th

  She entered it and was pressed to her Mother’s bosom by that worthy Woman. Cassandra smiled and whispered to herself ‘This is a day well spent.’

  Finis

  AMELIA WEBSTER

  An interesting and well written Tale

  Is dedicated by Permission

  to

  Mrs Austen

  by

  Her humble Servant

  The Author

  Letter the first

  To Miss Webster

  My dear Amelia

  You will rejoice to hear of the return of my amiable Brother from abroad. He arrived on Thursday, and never did I see a finer form, save that of your sincere freind

  Matilda Hervey

  Letter the 2d

  To H. Beverley Esquire

  Dear Beverley

  I arrived here last Thursday and met with a hearty reception from my Father, Mother and Sisters. The latter are both fine Girls — particularly Maud, who I think would suit you as a Wife well enough. What say you to this? She will have two thousand Pounds and as much more as you can get. If you don’t marry her you will mortally offend

  George Hervey

  Letter the 3d

  To Miss Hervey

  Dear Maud

  Beleive me I’m happy to hear of your Brother’s arrival. I have a thousand things to tell you, but my paper will only permit me to add that I am yr affect Freind

  Amelia Webster

  Letter the 4th

  To Miss S. Hervey

  Dear Sally

  I have found a very convenient old hollow oak to put our Letters in; for you know we have long maintained a private Correspondence. It is about a mile from my House and seven from yours. You may perhaps imagine that I might have made choice of a tree which would have divided the Distance more equally — I was sensible of this at the time, but as I considered that the walk would be of benefit to you in your weak and uncertain state of Health, I preferred it to one nearer your House, and am yr faithfull

  Benjamin Bar

  Letter the 5th

  To Miss Hervey

  Dear Maud

  I write now to inform you that I did not stop at your house in my way to Bath last Monday. — I have many things to inform you of besides; but my Paper reminds me of concluding; and beleive me yr ever &c.

  Amelia Webster

  Letter the 6th

  To Miss Webster

  Saturday

  Madam

  An humble Admirer now addresses you. — I saw you lovely Fair one as you passed on Monday last, before our House in your way to Bath. I saw you thro’ a telescope, and was so struck by your Charms that from that time to this I have not tasted human food.

  George Hervey

  Letter the 9th

  To Jack

  As I was this morning at Breakfast the Newspaper was brought me, and in the list of Marriages I read the following.

  ‘George Hervey Esqre to Miss Amelia Webster.’

 
‘Henry Beverley Esqre to Miss Hervey’

  &

  ‘Benjamin Bar Esqre to Miss Sarah Hervey’.

  yours, Tom

  FINIS

  THE THREE SISTERS: A NOVEL

  To Edward Austen Esquire

  The following unfinished Novel

  is respectfully inscribed

  by his obedient humble servant

  THE AUTHOR

  LETTER 1ST

  MISS STANHOPE TO MRS. ——

  MY DEAR FANNY

  I am the happiest creature in the World, for I have received an offer of marriage from Mr. Watts. It is the first I have ever had, and I hardly know how to value it enough. How I will triumph over the Duttons! I do not intend to accept it, at least I beleive not, but as I am not quite certain, I gave him an equivocal answer and left him. And now my dear Fanny, I want your Advice whether I should accept his offer or not; but that you may be able to judge of his merits and the situation of affairs, I will give you an account of them. He is quite an old Man, about two and thirty, very plain, so plain that I cannot bear to look at him. He is extremely disagreable and I hate him more than any body else in the world. He has a large fortune and will make great Settlements on me; but then he is very healthy. In short, I do not know what to do. If I refuse him, he as good as told me that he should offer himself to Sophia, and if she refused him, to Georgiana, and I could not bear to have either of them married before me. If I accept him I know I shall be miserable all the rest of my Life, for he is very ill tempered and peevish, extremely jealous, and so stingy that there is no living in the house with him. He told me he should mention the affair to Mama, but I insisted upon it that he did not, for very likely she would make me marry him whether I would or no; however probably he has before now, for he never does anything he is desired to do. I believe I shall have him. It will be such a triumph to be married before Sophy, Georgiana, and the Duttons; And he promised to have a new Carriage on the occasion, but we almost quarrelled about the colour, for I insisted upon its being blue spotted with silver, and he declared it should be a plain Chocolate; and to provoke me more, said it should be just as low as his old one. I won’t have him, I declare. He said he should come again tomorrow and take my final answer, so I beleive I must get him while I can. I know the Duttons will envy me and I shall be able to chaperone Sophy and Georgiana to all the Winter Balls. But then, what will be the use of that when very likely he won’t let me go myself, for I know he hates dancing, and what he hates himself he has no idea of any other person’s liking; and besides he talks a great deal of Women’s always staying at home and such stuff. I beleive I shan’t have him; I would refuse him at once if I were certain that neither of my Sisters would accept him, and that if they did not, he would not offer to the Duttons. I cannot run such a risk, so, if he will promise to have the Carriage ordered as I like, I will have him; if not he may ride in it by himself for me. I hope you like my determination; I can think of nothing better;

  And am your ever Affectionate

  MARY STANHOPE

  FROM THE SAME TO THE SAME

  DEAR FANNY

  I had but just sealed my last letter to you, when my Mother came up and told me she wanted to speak to me on a very particular subject.

  “Ah! I know what you mean; (said I) That old fool Mr. Watts has told you all about it, tho’ I bid him not. However you shan’t force me to have him if I don’t like it.”

  “I am not going to force you, Child, but only want to know what your resolution is with regard to his Proposals, and to insist upon your making up your mind one way or t’other, that if you don’t accept him, Sophy may.”

  “Indeed (replied I hastily) Sophy need not trouble herself, for I shall certainly marry him myself.”

  “If that is your resolution (said my Mother) why should you be afraid of my forcing your inclinations?”

  “Why, because I have not settled whether I shall have him or not.”

  “You are the strangest Girl in the World, Mary. What you say one moment, you unsay the next. Do tell me once for all, whether you intend to marry Mr. Watts or not.”

  “Law! Mama, how can I tell you what I don’t know myself?”

  “Then I desire you will know, and quickly too, for Mr. Watts says he won’t be kept in suspense.”

  “That depends upon me.”

  “No it does not, for if you do not give him your final answer tomorrow when he drinks Tea with us, he intends to pay his Addresses to Sophy.”

  “Then I shall tell all the World that he behaved very ill to me.”

  “What good will that do? Mr. Watts has been too long abused by all the World to mind it now.”

  “I wish I had a Father or a Brother, because then they should fight him.”

  “They would be cunning if they did, for Mr. Watts would run away first; and therefore you must and shall resolve either to accept or refuse him before tomorrow evening.”

  “But why, if I don’t have him, must he offer to my Sisters?”

  “Why! because he wishes to be allied to the Family, and because they are as pretty as you are.”

  “But will Sophy marry him, Mama, if he offers to her?”

  “Most likely; Why should not she? If, however, she does not choose it, then Georgiana must, for I am determined not to let such an opportunity escape of settling one of my Daughters so advantageously. So make the most of your time, I leave you to settle the Matter with yourself.” And then she went away. The only thing I can think of, my dear Fanny, is to ask Sophy and Georgiana whether they would have him were he to make proposals to them, and if they say they would not, I am resolved to refuse him too, for I hate him more than you can imagine. As for the Duttons, if he marries one of them, I shall still have the triumph of having refused him first. So, adeiu my dear Friend —

  Yours ever, M. S.

  MISS GEORGIANA STANHOPE TO MISS X X X

  MY DEAR ANNE

  Wednesday

  Sophy and I have just been practising a little deceit on our eldest Sister, to which we are not perfectly reconciled, and yet the circumstances were such that if any thing will excuse it, they must. Our neighbour Mr. Watts has made proposals to Mary: Proposals which she knew not how to receive, for tho’ she has a particular Dislike to him (in which she is not singular), yet she would willingly marry him sooner than risk his offering to Sophy or me, which, in case of a refusal from herself, he told her he should do — for you must know the poor Girl considers our marrying before her as one of the greatest misfortunes that can possibly befall her, and, to prevent it, would willingly ensure herself everlasting Misery by a Marriage with Mr. Watts. An hour ago she came to us to sound our inclinations respecting the affair, which were to determine hers. A little before she came, my Mother had given us an account of it, telling us that she certainly would not let him go farther than our own family for a Wife. “And therefore (said she) if Mary won’t have him, Sophy must; and if Sophy won’t, Georgiana shall.” Poor Georgiana! — We neither of us attempted to alter my Mother’s resolution, which I am sorry to say is generally more strictly kept, than rationally formed. As soon as she was gone, however, I broke silence to assure Sophy that if Mary should refuse Mr. Watts, I should not expect her to sacrifice her happiness by becoming his Wife from a motive of Generosity to me, which I was afraid her Good nature and sisterly affection might induce her to do.

  “Let us flatter ourselves (replied She) that Mary will not refuse him. Yet how can I hope that my Sister may accept a man who cannot make her happy.”

  “He cannot it is true but his Fortune, his Name, his House, his Carriage will, and I have no doubt but that Mary will marry him; indeed, why should she not? He is not more than two and thirty, a very proper age for a Man to marry at; He is rather plain to be sure, but then what is Beauty in a Man? — if he has but a genteel figure and a sensible looking Face it is quite sufficient.”

  “This is all very true, Georgiana, but Mr. Watts’s figure is unfortunately extremely vulgar and his Countenan
ce is very heavy.”

  “And then as to his temper; it has been reckoned bad, but may not the World be deceived in their Judgement of it? There is an open Frankness in his Disposition which becomes a Man. They say he is stingy; We’ll call that Prudence. They say he is suspicious. That proceeds from a warmth of Heart always excusable in Youth, and in short, I see no reason why he should not make a very good Husband, or why Mary should not be very happy with him.”

  Sophy laughed; I continued,

  “However whether Mary accepts him or not, I am resolved. My determination is made. I never would marry Mr. Watts, were Beggary the only alternative. So deficient in every respect! Hideous in his person, and without one good Quality to make amends for it. His fortune, to be sure, is good. Yet not so very large! Three thousand a year. What is three thousand a year? It is but six times as much as my Mother’s income. It will not tempt me.”

  “Yet it will be a noble fortune for Mary” said Sophy, laughing again.

  “For Mary! Yes indeed, it will give me pleasure to see her in such affluence.”

  Thus I ran on, to the great Entertainment of my Sister, till Mary came into the room, to appearance in great agitation. She sat down. We made room for her at the fire. She seemed at a loss how to begin, and at last said in some confusion,

  “Pray Sophy have you any mind to be married?”

  “To be married! None in the least. But why do you ask me? Are you acquainted with any one who means to make me proposals?”

  “I — no, how should I? But mayn’t I ask a common question?”