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Jane Austen: [Reads to Cassandra from first draft of Persuasion] More than seven years were gone since this little history of sorrowful interest had reached its close;
Jane Austen: She had been forced into prudence in her youth, she learned romance as she grew older: the natural sequel of an unnatural beginning.She had used him ill, deserted and disappointed him; and worse, she had shewn a feebleness of character in doing so, which his own decided, confident temper could not endure. She had given him up to oblige others.
Jane Austen: She hoped to be wise and reasonable in time; but alas! alas! she must confess to herself that she was not wise yet.
Harris Bigg: I don't know how you can say it without tears.
Jane Austen: I don't cry at anything that pays me money
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Jane Austen: What if you do meet him
[the right man]
Jane Austen: and he doesn't have any money?
Fanny Austen-Knight: But if I love him then nothing else matters!
Jane Austen: What in heavens name gave you that idea?
Fanny Austen-Knight: It says so in all your books.
Edward Austen Knight: [gravely] If that's what you think they say, my dear, perhaps, you should read them again.
Nicholas Agnew
Extended Reading
