My Dearest Janeite-
A light mist has been falling for the
past two days. The heavy fog brings to mind a different Jane who navigates her
way through the Moors. I sit on a bench between two hedge rows and stare out
over the countryside, Jane Austen's
Letters by Dierdre Le Faye finished for the first (but most certainly not last)
time. My mind turns away from a different Jane or the English Moors or even
dear Austen herself. Instead, I wonder at some of the bigger players in the
great authoress' life. Yes, it is evident that her family, especially sister
Cassandra, niece Fanny, and brother Henry, played an important part in her
everyday life and writing career (and I will get to the family eventually).
Today, though, I wish to turn my thoughts to Martha Lloyd.
I
tend to agree with the Austen experts who claim that Martha was the third
musketeer to Jane and Cassandra. She is referred to by Jane as like a sister. In Letter 58, upon the death of Elizabeth, Edward Austen Knight's wife, Jane writes:
"With
what true sympathy our feelings are shared by Martha you need not
be
told; she is the friend and sister under every circumstance."
"I
would not let Martha read "First Impressions"[4] again upon any
account,
and am very glad that I did not leave it in your power. She is
very
cunning, but I saw through her design; she means to publish it from
memory,
and one more perusal must enable her to do it. As for
"Fitzalbini,"
when I get home she shall have it, as soon as ever she
will
own that Mr. Elliott is handsomer than Mr. Lance, that fair men are
preferable
to black; for I mean to take every opportunity of rooting out
her
prejudices."