2 December 1815 – Saturday – from Hans Place

My dear Cassandra

Henry came back yesterday, & might have returned the day before if he had known as much in time.  I had the pleasure of hearing from Mr T. on wednesday night that Mr Seymour thought there was not the least occasion for absenting himself any longer.– I had also the comfort of a few lines on wednesday morng from Henry himself– (just after your Letter was gone) giving so good an account of his feelings as made me perfectly easy.  He met with the utmost care & attention at Hanwell, spent his two days there very quietly & pleasantly, & being certainly in no respect the worse for going, we may beleive that he must be better, as he is quite sure of being himself.– To make his return a complete Gala, Mr Haden was secured for dinner– I need not say that our Eveng was agreable.–

But you seem to be under a mistake as to Mr H.– You call him an Apothecary; he is no Apothecary, he has never been an Apothecary, there is not an Apothecary in this Neighbourhood– the only inconvenience of the situation perhaps, but so it is– we have not a medical Man within reach– he is a Haden, nothing but a Haden, a sort of wonderful nondescript Creature on two Legs, something between a Man & an Angel– but without the least spice of an Apothecary.– He is perhaps the only Person not an Apothecary hereabouts.– He has never sung to us.  He will not sing without a P. Forte accompaniment.

Mr Meyers gives his three Lessons a week– altering his days & his hours however just as he chuses, never very punctual, & never giving good Measure.– I have not Fanny’s fondness for Masters, & Mr Meyers does not give me any Longing after them.  The truth is I think, that they are all, at least Music Masters, made of too much consequence & allowed to take too many Liberties with their Scholar’s time.

We shall be delighted to see Edward on Monday– only sorry that you must be losing him.  A Turkey will be equally welcome with himself.– He must prepare for his own proper bedchamber here, as Henry moved down to the one below last week; he found the other cold.– I am sorry my Mother has been suffering, & am afraid this exquisite weather is too good to agree with her.– I enjoy it all over me, from top to toe, from right to left, Longitudinally, Perpendicularly, Diagonally; — & I cannot but selfishly hope we are to have it last till Christmas;– nice, unwholesome, Unseasonable, relaxing, close, muggy weather!–

Oh!– thank you very much for your long Letter; it did me a great deal of good.– Henry accepts your offer of making his nine gallon of Mead, thankfully.  This mistake of the Dogs rather vexed him for a moment, but he has not thought of it since.– To day, he makes a third attempt at strengthening Plaister, & as I am sure he will now be getting out a great deal, it is to be wished that he may be able to keep it on.– He set off this morning by the Chelsea Coach to sign Bonds & visit Henrietta St, & I have no doubt will be going every day to Henrietta St– Fanny & I were very snug by ourselves, as soon as we were satisfied about our Invalid’s being safe at Hanwell.– By Manoeuvring & good luck we foiled all the Mailings attempts upon us.  Happily I caught a little cold on wednesday, the morng we were in Town, which we made very useful; & we saw nobody but our Precious, & Mr Tilson.– This Evening the Malings are allowed to drink tea with us.– We are in hope, that is, we wish Miss Palmer & the little girls may come this morning.  You know of course, that she could not come on Thursday; – & she will not attempt to name any other day.– I do not think I shall send down any more dirty Linen;– it will not answer when the Carge is to be paid each way.– I have got Anna’s arrow-root, & your gloves.–

God bless you.– Excuse the shortness of this– but I must finish it now, that I may save you 2d6— Best Love.– Yrs affecly
J.A.

It strikes me that I have no business to give the P.R. a Binding, but we will take Counsel upon the question.–

I am glad you have put the flounce on your Chintz, I am sure it must look particularly well, & it is what I had thought of.–

Miss Austen
Chawton
Alton
Hants