than we had intended. As soon as we had thus happily disencumbered
ourselves from the weight of so much money, we began to think of

returning to our Mothers, but accidentallyhearing that they were
both starved to Death, we gave over the design and determined to

engage ourselves to some strolling Company of Players, as we had
always a turn for the Stage. Accordingly we offered our services

to one and were accepted; our Company was indeed rather small, as
it consisted only of the Manager his wife and ourselves, but there

were fewer to pay and the only inconvenience attending it was the
Scarcity of Plays which for want of People to fill the Characters,

we could perform. We did not mind trifles however--. One of our
most admired Performances was MACBETH, in which we were truly

great. The Manager always played BANQUO himself, his Wife my LADY
MACBETH. I did the THREE WITCHES and Philander acted ALL THE REST.

To say the truth this tragedy was not only the Best, but the only
Play that we ever performed; and after having acted it all over

England, and Wales, we came to Scotland to exhibit it over the
remainder of Great Britain. We happened to be quartered in that

very Town, where you came and met your Grandfather--. We were in
the Inn-yard when his Carriage entered and perceiving by the arms

to whom it belonged, and knowing that Lord St Clair was our
Grandfather, we agreed to endeavour to get something from him by

discovering the Relationship--. You know how well it succeeded--.
Having obtained the two Hundred Pounds, we instantly left the

Town, leaving our Manager and his Wife to act MACBETH by
themselves, and took the road to Sterling, where we spent our

little fortune with great ECLAT. We are now returning to Edinburgh
in order to get some preferment in the Acting way; and such my

Dear Cousin is our History."
I thanked the amiable Youth for his entertaining narration, and

after expressing my wishes for their Welfare and Happiness, left
them in their little Habitation and returned to my other Freinds

who impatiently" target="_blank" title="ad.不耐烦地，急躁地">impatiently expected me.
My adventures are now drawing to a close my dearest Marianne;

at least for the present.
When we arrived at Edinburgh Sir Edward told me that as the

Widow of his son, he desired I would accept from his Hands of four
Hundred a year. I graciously promised that I would, but could not

help observing that the unsimpathetic Baronet offered it more on
account of my being the Widow of Edward than in being the refined

and amiable Laura.
I took up my Residence in a Romantic Village in the Highlands

of Scotland where I have ever since continued, and where I can
uninterrupted by unmeaning Visits, indulge in a melancholy

solitude, my unceasing Lamentations for the Death of my Father, my
Mother, my Husband and my Freind.

Augusta has been for several years united to Graham the Man of
all others most suited to her; she became acquainted with him

during her stay in Scotland.
Sir Edward in hopes of gaining an Heir to his Title and Estate,

at the same time married Lady Dorothea--. His wishes have been
answered.

Philander and Gustavus, after having raised their reputation by
their Performances in the Theatrical Line at Edinburgh, removed to

Covent Garden, where they still exhibit under the assumed names of
LUVIS and QUICK.

Philippa has long paid the Debt of Nature, Her Husband however
still continues to drive the Stage-Coach from Edinburgh to

Sterling:--
Adeiu my Dearest Marianne.

Laura.
Finis

June 13th 1790.
*

AN UNFINISHED NOVEL IN LETTERS
To HENRY THOMAS AUSTEN Esqre.

Sir
I am now availing myself of the Liberty you have frequently

honoured me with of dedicating one of my Novels to you. That it
is unfinished, I greive; yet fear that from me, it will always

remain so; that as far as it is carried, it should be so trifling
and so unworthy of you, is another concern to your obliged humble

Servant
The Author

Messrs Demand and Co--please to pay Jane Austen Spinster the sum
of one hundred guineas on account of your Humble Servant.

H. T. Austen
L105. 0. 0.

*
LESLEY CASTLE

LETTER the FIRST is from
Miss MARGARET LESLEY to Miss CHARLOTTE LUTTERELL.

Lesley Castle Janry 3rd--1792.
My Brother has just left us. "Matilda (said he at parting) you

and Margaret will I am certain take all the care of my dear
little one, that she might have received from an indulgent, and

affectionate and amiable Mother." Tears rolled down his cheeks
as he spoke these words--the remembrance of her, who had so

wantonly disgraced the Maternal character and so openly violated
the conjugal Duties, prevented his adding anything farther; he

embraced his sweet Child and after saluting Matilda and Me
hastily broke from us and seating himself in his Chaise, pursued

the road to Aberdeen. Never was there a better young Man! Ah!
how little did he deserve the misfortunes he has experienced in

the Marriage state. So good a Husband to so bad a Wife! for you
know my dear Charlotte that the Worthless Louisa left him, her

Child and reputation a few weeks ago in company with Danvers and
dishonour. Never was there a sweeter face, a finer form, or a

less amiable Heart than Louisa owned! Her child already
possesses the personal Charms of her unhappy Mother! May she

inherit from her Father all his mental ones! Lesley is at
present but five and twenty, and has already given himself up to

melancholy and Despair; what a difference between him and his
Father! Sir George is 57 and still remains the Beau, the flighty

stripling, the gay Lad, and sprightly Youngster, that his Son was
really about five years back, and that HE has affected to appear

ever since my remembrance. While our father is fluttering about
the streets of London, gay, dissipated, and Thoughtless at the

age of 57, Matilda and I continue secluded from Mankind in our
old and Mouldering Castle, which is situated two miles from Perth

on a bold projecting Rock, and commands an extensive veiw of the
Town and its delightful Environs. But tho' retired from almost

all the World, (for we visit no one but the M'Leods, The
M'Kenzies, the M'Phersons, the M'Cartneys, the M'Donalds, The

M'kinnons, the M'lellans, the M'kays, the Macbeths and the
Macduffs) we are neither dull nor unhappy; on the contrary there

never were two more lively, more agreable or more witty girls,
than we are; not an hour in the Day hangs heavy on our Hands. We

read, we work, we walk, and when fatigued with these Employments
releive our spirits, either by a lively song, a graceful Dance,

or by some smart bon-mot, and witty repartee. We are handsome my
dear Charlotte, very handsome and the greatest of our Perfections

is, that we are entirely sensible" target="_blank" title="a.麻木的；冷淡的">insensible of them ourselves. But why
do I thus dwell on myself! Let me rather repeat the praise of

our dear little Neice the innocent Louisa, who is at present
sweetly smiling in a gentle Nap, as she reposes on the sofa. The

dear Creature is just turned of two years old; as handsome as
tho' 2 and 20, as sensible as tho' 2 and 30, and as prudent as

tho' 2 and 40. To convince you of this, I must inform you that