Free Dearest Cousin Jane by Jill Pitkeathley Page B

of seizures—well, in truth I must call them fits. It is dreadful to see him at these moments and we can only try to hold him and prevent him from hurting himself until they subside. When they do, he generally sleeps a little and awakes his usual sunny-natured and smiling self. I have consulted several of the doctors who have been recommended but they all say he may well grow out of it. In my most depressed moments, I remember that little George Austen has not grown out of his condition and must needs be cared for away from his family. That I could not bear and have promised myself that come what may, he will remain with me always.
    I am delighted that young Frank and Cassandra and Jane are to be of the party. They have all been visiting cousin Philly, so nodoubt will have heard of her visit here. I am confident the food there will have been frugal, so I shall ensure they dine splendidly when they arrive, in spite of being surrounded by trunks.
    A few days later
    Oh, how foolish I was to worry about the state of my apartments! As if my dear relations would worry about such trivia. What merriment and enjoyment we have had! Dear Uncle George grows more amiable with each year; his hair grows whiter but his manner is even more pleasing. We all took special delight in the teasing about cousin Philly.
    ‘Why, my dear,’ said Uncle George, ‘we were amazed to find you in the hall when we arrived. According to Philly, you were never at home, unless, that is, you were entertaining some grand personage!’
    ‘Take care what you say to that minx,’ said Aunt Cassandra. ‘She is no friend to you, but criticises constantly.’
    ‘Yes,’ put in Jane, ‘she thinks Cassy very pretty and modest but finds me whimsical and affected!’
    ‘I am sure it is just her rather strange manner.’ I always feel it necessary to defend Philly, for she has a rather lonely life, isolated with her parents and I feel sorry for her. ‘And after all, Cassy is very pretty.’
    ‘Of course she is, but I am not—’
    ‘That will do Jane,’ said my aunt, ‘lest you become what she thinks you are.’
    I was glad that Frank distracted us with a tale of how Philly disapproves of his ambitions to join the navy, for I could see that there was the usual tension between Jane and her mother. I noticed, too, that Jane had changed considerably since the winter.She had grown, it was true, but there was something a little more confident, more mature in her manner. I was eager to talk to her alone.
    What a delight I found her! Whimsical she may be, but what virtue there is in her dry wit, and as for her powers of observation! I was touched that she shyly offered me two of what she called her ‘scribblings’ to read.
    The first was called ‘The Beautiful Cassandra,’ and it is about a wild girl who rampages through London streets, stealing ice cream, knocking people down, refusing to pay the coachman who has driven her all round the city, and deciding that this is a splendid way to pass the day! The other is a longer tale called ‘Jack and Alice,’ and I was rather shocked to find it contained a murder, a mutilation, and some rather violent passions. For a twelve year old…well, I was astonished!
    She watched me anxiously as I read, following my every expression, and when I refolded the papers she said, ‘Well, what think you of my first efforts?’
    ‘Jane, they are a true delight. Have you shown them to your parents?’
    Her face fell. ‘I have not. You see they are so pleased with the writings that they are receiving from James and Henry from Oxford, that I do not want to seem as though I…’ She hesitated.
    ‘As though you are trying to compete with them?’
    ‘Yes, I suppose so.’
    ‘I, too, have received the advance copy of their magazine— The Loiterer it is called is it not?’
    ‘Yes, it is to come out each month’.
    ‘Well they have done very well to set up a regular publication and it is most amusing, in the style of—’
    ‘That