My dear Cassandra,
This morning has been spent in Doubt & Deliberation; in forming plans, and removing Difficulties, for it ushered in the Day with an event which I had not intended should take place so soon by a week. Frank has rec:d his appointment on Board the Captn John Gore, commanded by the Triton, and will therefore be obliged to be in Town on wednesday– & tho’ I have every Disposition in the world to accompany him on that day, I cannot go on the Uncertainty of the Pearsons being at Home; as I should not have a place to go to, in case they were from Home. — I wrote to Miss P — on friday, & hoped to receive an answer from her this morning, which would have rendered everything smooth & Easy, and would have enabled us to leave this place tomorrow, as Frank on first receiving his Appointment intended to do. He remains till Wednesday merely to accommodate me. I have written to her again today and desired her to answer it by return of post.– On Tuesday therefore I shall positively know whether they can receive me on Wednesday.– If they cannot, Edward has been so good as to promise to take me to Greenwich on the Monday following which was the day before fixed on, if that suits them better–. If I have no answer at all on Tuesday, I must suppose Mary is not at Home, & must wait till I do hear; as after having invited her to go to Steventon with me, it will not quite do, to go home and say no more about it.–
My Father will be so good as to fetch home his prodigal Daughter from Town, I hope, unless he wishes me to walk the Hospitals, Enter at the Temple, or mount Guard at St James. It will hardly be in Frank’s power to take me home; nay, it certainly will not. I shall write again as soon as I get to Greenwich–.
What dreadful Hot weather we have!– It keeps one in a continual state of Inelegance.– If Miss Pearson should return with me, pray be careful not to expect too much Beauty. I will not pretend to say that on a first view, she quite answered the opinion I had formed of her.– My Mother I am sure will be disappointed, if she does not take great care. From what I remember of her picture, it is no great resemblance. I am very glad that the idea of returning with Frank occurred to me, for as to Henry’s coming into Kent again, the time of its taking place is so very uncertain, that I should be waiting for Deadmen’s Shoes.
I had once determined to go with Frank tomorrow & take my chance &cr; but they dissuaded me from so rash a step–as I really think on consideration it would have been; for if the Pearsons were not at home, I should inevitably fall a Sacrifice to the arts of some fat Woman who would make me drunk with Small Beer—-
Mary is brought to bed of a Boy; both doing very well. I shall leave you to guess what Mary, I mean.– Adeiu, with best Love to all your agreable Inmates. Donot let the Lloyds go on any account before I return, unless Miss P– is of the party.
How ill I have written. I begin to hate myself.
Yrs ever– J: Austen —
The Triton is a new 32 Frigate, just launched at Deptford.– Frank is much pleased with the prospect of having Capt: Gore under his command.
Miss Austen
Steventon
Overton
Hants.
QuinnTessence 
Pingback: I should inevitably fall a Sacrifice to the arts of some fat Woman who would make me drunk with Small Beer. | QuinnTessence