God bless you. Excuse the shortness of this, but I must finish it now, that I may save you 2d. Best love.
Yours affectionately, 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, and it is what I had thought of.
Miss Austen,
Chawton, Alton, Hants.
FOOTNOTE:
[38] Probably a playful allusion to Mr. Haden.
LXXII.
Chawton (Feb. 20, 1816).
My dearest Fanny,—You are inimitable, irresistible. You are the delight of my life. Such letters, such entertaining letters, as you have lately sent! such a description of your queer little heart! such a lovely display of what imagination does! You are worth your weight in gold, or even in the new silver coinage. I cannot express to you what I have felt in reading your history of yourself,—how full of pity and concern, and admiration and amusement I have been! You are the paragon of all that is silly and sensible, commonplace and eccentric, sad and lively, provoking and interesting. Who can keep pace with the fluctuations of your fancy, the capprizios of your taste, the contradictions of your feelings? You are so odd, and all the time so perfectly natural!—so peculiar in yourself, and yet so like everybody else!