My dear Cassandra,—I have got some pleasant news for you which I am eager to communicate, and therefore begin my letter sooner, though I shall not send it sooner than usual.
[40]
Admiral Gambier, in reply to my father's application, writes as follows: "As it is usual to keep young officers in small vessels1, it being most proper on account of their inexperience, and it being also a situation where they are more in the way of learning their duty, your son has been continued in the 'Scorpion2;' but I have mentioned to the Board of Admiralty his wish to be in a frigate3, and when a proper opportunity offers and it is judged that he has taken his turn in a small ship, I hope he will be removed. With regard to your son now in the 'London' I am glad I can give you the assurance that his promotion4 is likely to take place very soon, as Lord Spencer has been so good as to say he would include him in an arrangement that he proposes making in a short time relative to some promotions5 in that quarter."
There! I may now finish my letter and go and hang myself, for I am sure I can neither write nor do anything which will not appear insipid6 to you after this. Now I really think he will soon be made, and only wish we could communicate our foreknowledge of the event to him whom it principally concerns. My father has written to Daysh to desire that he will inform us, if he can, when the commission is sent. Your chief wish is now ready to be accomplished7; and could Lord Spencer give happiness to Martha at the same time, what a joyful8 heart he would make of yours!
[41]
I have sent the same extract of the sweets of Gambier to Charles, who, poor fellow, though he sinks into nothing but an humble9 attendant on the hero of the piece, will, I hope, be contented10 with the prospect11 held out to him. By what the Admiral says, it appears as if he had been designedly kept in the "Scorpion." But I will not torment12 myself with conjectures13 and suppositions; facts shall satisfy me.
Frank had not heard from any of us for ten weeks when he wrote to me on November 12 in consequence of Lord St. Vincent being removed to Gibraltar. When his commission is sent, however, it will not be so long on its road as our letters, because all the Government despatches are forwarded by land to his lordship from Lisbon with great regularity14.
I returned from Manydown this morning, and found my mother certainly in no respect worse than when I left her. She does not like the cold weather, but that we cannot help. I spent my time very quietly and very pleasantly with Catherine. Miss Blackford is agreeable enough. I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking15 them a great deal. I found only Catherine and her when I got to Manydown on Thursday. We dined together, and went together to Worting to seek the protection of Mrs. Clarke, with whom were Lady Mildmay, her eldest16 son, and Mr. and Mrs. Hoare.
[42]
Our ball was very thin, but by no means unpleasant. There were thirty-one people, and only eleven ladies out of the number, and but five single women in the room. Of the gentlemen present you may have some idea from the list of my partners,—Mr. Wood, G. Lefroy, Rice, a Mr. Butcher (belonging to the Temples, a sailor and not of the 11th Light Dragoons), Mr. Temple (not the horrid17 one of all), Mr. Wm. Orde (cousin to the Kingsclere man), Mr. John Harwood, and Mr. Calland, who appeared as usual with his hat in his hand, and stood every now and then behind Catherine and me to be talked to and abused for not dancing. We teased him, however, into it at last. I was very glad to see him again after so long a separation, and he was altogether rather the genius and flirt18 of the evening. He inquired after you.
There were twenty dances, and I danced them all, and without any fatigue19. I was glad to find myself capable of dancing so much, and with so much satisfaction as I did; from my slender enjoyment20 of the Ashford balls (as assemblies for dancing) I had not thought myself equal to it, but in cold weather and with few couples I fancy I could just as well dance for a week together as for half an hour. My black cap was openly admired by Mrs. Lefroy, and secretly I imagine by everybody else in the room....
[43]
Poor Edward! It is very hard that he, who has everything else in the world that he can wish for, should not have good health too. But I hope with the assistance of stomach complaints, faintnesses, and sicknesses, he will soon be restored to that blessing21 likewise. If his nervous complaint proceeded from a suppression of something that ought to be thrown out, which does not seem unlikely, the first of these disorders22 may really be a remedy, and I sincerely wish it may, for I know no one more deserving of happiness without alloy23 than Edward is....
The Lords of the Admiralty will have enough of our applications at present, for I hear from Charles that he has written to Lord Spencer himself to be removed. I am afraid his Serene24 Highness will be in a passion, and order some of our heads to be cut off....
You deserve a longer letter than this; but it is my unhappy fate seldom to treat people so well as they deserve.... God bless you!
Yours affectionately,
Jane Austen.
Wednesday.—The snow came to nothing yesterday, so I did go to Deane, and returned home at nine o'clock at night in the little carriage, and without being very cold.
Miss Austen,
Godmersham Park, Faversham, Kent.
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1
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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2
scorpion
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| n.蝎子，心黑的人，蝎子鞭 | |
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3
frigate
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| n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰 | |
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4
promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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5
promotions
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| 促进( promotion的名词复数 )； 提升； 推广； 宣传 | |
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6
insipid
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| adj.无味的，枯燥乏味的，单调的 | |
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7
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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8
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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9
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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10
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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11
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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12
torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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13
conjectures
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| 推测，猜想( conjecture的名词复数 ) | |
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14
regularity
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| n.规律性，规则性；匀称，整齐 | |
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15
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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16
eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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17
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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18
flirt
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| v.调情，挑逗，调戏；n.调情者，卖俏者 | |
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19
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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20
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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21
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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22
disorders
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| n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调 | |
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23
alloy
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| n.合金，(金属的)成色 | |
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24
serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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