little miss austin

1804, an October day.

England, Southampton.

A merchant ship is lining up to enter the port.

A young man in a white shirt stood at the bow of the boat, looking at the shore from a distance.

"Hey, it's almost time to land, don't you need to act like a little bird returning to its nest?" Another man's voice sounded behind him.

"That's because you are accompanied by the beautiful Miss Temple." The young man looked back at his friend.

William Kingsley laughed and patted Charles Wesley on the shoulder. "You can too, you just don't want to."

Wesley smiled, "Look, nothing has changed, it's still the same as it was more than three years ago."

"What change do you want?"

"I don't know, maybe an amazing change."

"You've been out too long. Come on, the ship's coming in, you should dress like a gentleman, not a New World savage."

The merchant ship slowly entered the mooring dock, lowered the anchor and stopped.The sailor lowered the gangway and leaned against the pier.

The guests on the merchant ship disembarked first. Wesley and William and their party consisted of 5 people. The young Sally Temple looked curiously at the people on the pier: there were gentlemen and servants picking up people, sailors with excited faces, and people carrying goods. Weary coolies, few women, and very few blacks.

William held Sally's hand and led her off the boat, "I saw the carriage my father sent to pick us up, and it's there." He pointed to several carriages on the pier.

Sally was very worried, "How far is it to London?"

"It's not very far, just two to three days' walk."

Sally's mother, Mrs. Temple, got off the boat after them, "But first, we should find a hotel and have a good wash." She frowned in disgust.According to her idea, she should wait for the passenger ship that transports passengers, but the merchant ship has an earlier and faster schedule, so the two men made the decision and boarded the merchant ship.Merchant ships are mainly used to transport trade goods. There are not many cabins and the conditions are not good. There is not much fresh water for guests to bathe, which is very inconvenient.

Another boy, about 17 or 8 years old, jumped down the gangway in three steps and two steps, "William! Is this England?"

Wesley stood on the gangway watching, feeling a little excited, and quickly walked down the gangway.

A line of black slaves followed to unload their luggage.

"I hope your father sent enough wagons to carry the luggage," said Mrs. Temple.

William frowned imperceptibly, "The housekeeper will arrange everything."

Lord Kingsley - oh no, Baron Kingsley now - has a seaside villa in Southampton, the location, size and interior decoration of the villa is very satisfactory to Mrs Temple, and the servants are well trained. She was so impressed that she could put up with an English accent for that.

It was already quite cold in England in October. After all the guests had washed up, the dinner was postponed until after 10 pm.

The 17-year-old Grant Temple's table manners are not very good, with the unique indifference of the young master of the southern manor in the United States.I have to comment while eating, this dish is not good, this dish is average, this dish is okay.

William and Wesley didn't pay much attention to him. They sat next to each other and talked in a low voice.

Mrs. Temple probably finally realized that this was not their South Carolina estate. "Grant! Don't be so rude."

Grant grinned, "Mom, you see Dad always said that England has everything, and I think some places are not as good as the United States."

"Don't be so nonsense." Mrs. Temple blamed her son lightly, "This is also your grandfather's homeland. It has not been 100 years since the Temple family left England."

Wesley glanced at William.

William said: "Maybe you can find relatives in Buckinghamshire."

Grant shook his head, "I've been away for decades, what are you going back to do? If my grandfather is still around, I might want to go back to Buckinghamshire. I want to see London. Shall we go to London tomorrow?"

"Leave early tomorrow morning."

Mrs. Temple urged her son and daughter to finish eating quickly and go upstairs to sleep.

Wesley ignored how William would deal with his fiancée's family.After dinner, he went back to his room and asked the servant to bring him a newspaper.Ten minutes later, the valet brought a stack of newspapers, including "The Times" and the newly launched "London Morning Post". Due to transportation problems, there were no newspapers for these two days, and they were all newspapers from this week and last week.

He took out the tin can containing the finest shredded tobacco, carefully rolled a cigarette with tissue paper, and lit it on the candlestick.

After going out for several years, he finally learned to smoke and could accept the smell of lit tobacco, but he didn't smoke much.

With a cigarette between his fingers, he flipped through several newspapers.

"The Times" is generally some reports on the situation with France, a few news from the House of Lords and Commons in London, marriage announcements, birth announcements, obituary and funeral announcements, local London news, gossip, police announcements, etc.

The London Morning Post is a little more lifelike, mostly local news, news of dignitaries of all kinds, balls and banquets; announcements of marriages, births, obituaries and funerals; crossword puzzles, crossword puzzles; Discount information, free coupons, shopping can be fully discounted; book advertisements, not limited to novels; book reviews; reviews of new dramas staged in the West End of London; lace news from famous actors; columns by well-known writers, dedicated to small things in life; serialized novels , a love story and an adventure story are all big hits.

The content can be said to be quite rich and all-inclusive.

It is said that after the "London Morning News" was published, it only took one year to become the favorite newspaper of London residents, especially middle-class housewives who could only afford a few servants at home. They were keen to collect coupons and send servants to Purchasing; unmarried ladies learn from the newspaper where there will be balls and interesting garden parties; married men probably don't care much about this newspaper, but unmarried men like news of the West End;

Casual people play anagrams and crossword puzzles to pass the time; the serialization of novels also attracts a considerable number of readers, and people will discuss today's new plot and the next direction of the plot when they gather with friends.

Wesley looked carefully at the serialized novels on the "London Morning Post". The entire page was dedicated to the serialized section, and 4 novels were serialized at the same time. Among them, the author named Lady Christiana was Alice, and the author named Mrs. Austen was Jane.

Alice wrote a European adventure story, and abbreviated an English country love story.

"Henry! Sit down!" The girl who shouted in a commanding tone was Alice Austin, who was about to turn 15 years old. The boy she scolded pouted and sat down on the high stool obediently.

There was an easel in front of Alice, and on the easel was a drawing board, covered with a thick piece of drawing paper, on which a little boy was drawn in gouache.

Henry Austin has been in London for more than two years. As an undisclosed adopted son, he lives with his uncle's family for most of the year, sometimes returning to Goldmusham in Kent for one or two months.

Little Henry is very lively at home, even in his uncle's house. The person he is most afraid of is not his father or uncle, but his little aunt Alice——Aunt Alice can really beat people!

When he first came to London, he was cleaned up by Alice. From then on, he saw that his little aunt was very honest, and if he wanted to get angry occasionally, he was quickly suppressed and couldn't get angry.

But the 7-year-old boy just couldn't sit still, and within a few minutes, he started to writhe again.

"Why are you like a cat? Is it so difficult to sit still for 10 minutes?" Alice was so angry that she wanted to beat him up.

"Okay, let him play if he doesn't want to sit. Isn't it just drawing, we Helena can let you draw, can't you, baby?" Cathy, who was sitting on the wicker chair beside her, teased and hugged little girl on lap.

Alice waved impatiently, "Okay, let's go!"

Little Henry jumped off the high stool, ran over, and kissed Cathy on the face flatteringly, "Thank you, Aunt Cathy." He turned around and wanted to run away.

"Stop." Alice called to him, pointed to his face, and bent down.Little Henry obediently went over and kissed her, "Aunt Alice, I'm going out to play."

"Tell Jacob to take you, and don't allow yourself to go out alone."

"Got it." The little boy ran out like a whirlwind, shouting: "Jacob! Jacob!"

Alice put down her palette and paintbrush, and went to sit next to Cathy, "You're not babysitting them, so send them back and let Jane take them by herself."

Helena looks like Tom, with a small face like a small apple, very cute and chubby.

Alice stretched out her finger and pressed the little girl's face. Helena looked at her with a smile and reached out to touch her face.

Alice grabbed Helena's little hand and blew into her tiny palm.

Helena giggled.

"I just took it over to live for a few days, and it's not a permanent residence. What's the matter? Are you afraid that your mother won't love you?"

"I've grown up," Alice lazily leaned on her sister's shoulder, "Mom always thinks I'm still a child."

Cathy smiled, "Mom is afraid that something will happen to you. You are the big baby of our family, so nothing can happen." Mom was frightened by the little Thomas incident and the little Hastings incident. If Alice lived in Dales She was not very worried about Ford. In August this year, Alice finished her studies in Daylesford and returned to her new home in London. She began to worry all day long. She was not allowed to go to downtown London alone without the company of an adult.

Both Meili and Jacob followed her to London. Meili got married this year, and her husband is the driver of the Austin family. Good servants are rare, and Alice didn't want to change her personal maid, so she brought them; Jacob needless to say, definitely will go with her.

Jacob has been well fed and well-fed for the past few years. He is tall and tall. He is about to turn 19 years old. He looks like a grown man in his 20s. Alice takes him with her wherever she goes.Mrs. Austen thought that Jacob's appearance was strong and powerful, and he was suitable to be a valet when he was out.As Alice's companion, Jacob also learned a lot of things, including horse riding, revolver, and rifle. He has the stubbornness of a country boy, and he wants to learn the best after learning. Hard work.

I also read a lot of books. Mr. Hastings taught Alice, and most of the time he was by the side, but he couldn't be like Alice, who could ask any questions on the spot.He can't ask if he doesn't understand, he can only read books by himself, and the library is open to him.Alice likes his active research, often encourages him, and occasionally answers his questions, but not many times.

Alice teased little Helena for a while, then got up and went upstairs to change, and asked Jacob to go out for a ride.

When Wesley arrived at the Austin house, Alice had already run around the house several times. Seeing a carriage diverting from the main road, someone must have come. It was probably Henry or Jane. She didn't care and ran again. After a circle, I went home.

When he arrived at the door, he got off the horse neatly, "Lead the horse to the stable." He threw the reins and whip to Jacob.

Jacob nodded and led the two horses to the stables.

After entering the house, go to the living room to see who is here, take off your gloves, and ask loudly: "Mom, who is here?"

The man in the living room stood up from the sofa, "Alice."

Alice gave a surprised "Huh" at first, and then wondered, "Who are you?"

Mrs. Austin said angrily, "Look at you kid! Why haven't you seen each other for a few years? This is Mr. Wesley."

"Wesley?" Alice looked at him: in fact, his body has not changed much, he is a little stronger than before, but he is very thin, even if he is strong, he is still very thin. Alice thinks this is his physical problem, that is, he is very thin. The physique that is not easy to gain weight is pretty good.The shape of the face has hardly changed, but because of the mustache on the upper lip, it really looks like an elegant gentleman, not a Hampshire country boy.

"Hello, Alice." Wesley smiled. "I'm back from America." He was also looking at her: he remembered her birthday, Christmas Eve, so she wasn't 15 yet.He had grown taller, but was still a head and a half shorter than him.The precocious and funny girl had grown into a beautiful young girl--beautiful indeed, with youth all over her body.Wear men's riding clothes, but they are different from ordinary men's clothes: long trousers, riding boots, and trousers are made of thick material, like canvas; short jackets do not have long back hem, smooth tailoring, single-breasted, but no buttons Button it up, revealing the off-white stand-up collar shirt, dark blue V-neck wool sweater, and the V-neck embroidered with colorful silk threads.

The hair is very luxuriant, and the color of the hair has changed from the lighter golden brown when I was a child to a very dark golden brown, and it will turn into a light tan in a few years. It should be tied up when riding a horse, but now it is loose.This would normally be considered indecent, but the way she flicks her hair is so cute that it's forgotten.

Mrs. Austen was so used to her loose hair that she forgot for a moment that she should be braiding it properly.

"Well, yes, you went to America, you said in your letter. But I thought you were going to stay in America for a while."

"It was Mrs. Gresham, who wrote to say she was very ill, and I hurried back."

"She's sick?"

Mrs. Austin said: "I have been ill for a while, but that was—half a year ago." It is so inconvenient to contact the distant New World. The steam turbine technology has not been upgraded, and wind sailing is still used to travel between the two continents, so It really takes half a year for the letter to be sent and then waiting for the person to come back from the United States.

"So it's all right now?"

"It has recovered, but she is indeed old and not in good spirits."

"Then why did you come to London?"

Wesley smiled and didn't answer.

"Come on, you haven't seen our new home yet, let me show you around."

Mrs. Austin wanted to stop her, but she didn't know what to say after thinking about it. Alice probably just wanted to show off her new home.

"You have a beard, I don't even dare to recognize you. What? Is this a new fashion trend in America?"

"Isn't it good-looking? I think men my age have beards."

"Not necessarily! Beards are not popular in London now, like Henry and Tom don't have beards."

"Oh!" Wesley whispered, "No wonder people always look at me secretly, maybe they think my beard is strange?"

"Maybe I think you're handsome."

"No one has ever used that word to describe me, not even my aunt."

Alice did not take him upstairs, but browsed briefly on the first floor, and then went out through the back hall.

"Look, here is the swimming pool, but it's cold now, and my mother won't let me swim in it." She pointed to the swimming pool, "I'm really worried that some cats and rabbits will fall in and drown, so I want them to drain the water , Cover the swimming pool with wooden boards, so that in the spring, the swimming pool will not be full of fallen leaves and other strange things.”

"Have you learned how to swim?"

"Got it. Can't you? By the way, you never said you can swim."

He smiled, "Of course."

"Look, we still have a pretty big wood, and there's a litter of rabbits in the woods, and Ivo and Oliver came to see me last year, and we pretty much killed them all, but this year we've got a new litter of rabbits. We've been Let's shoot rabbits for a few days."

"Okay. Do you have a rifle at home?"

"Yes, there are four."

"Would you like to call William?"

"He's back too? Has he found a rich fiancée?"

"I found it, and I brought my fiancée, my fiancée's mother, and my fiancée's brother back with me."

"Wow!" Alice exclaimed, "So it's the fiancée's mother who wants to see if he's really the son of the baron, isn't it?"

Wesley lowered his head and smiled.

Mrs. Austin was very moved. The failed suitor was now a gentleman.

Back then, she liked Wesley quite a lot. Wesley was honest and honest with a considerable pension, and he was the best candidate for son-in-law, but unfortunately, Jane had no interest in him at all.Jane chose a very tortuous road, and almost failed to marry Tom, and almost lost her reputation.Jane left home for a few days, how could she, a mother, not know?Alice handled Jane's attempted elopement very well and preserved the reputation of the Austin family. At that time, she knew that Alice would be a very independent girl in the future.

She stayed with Wesley for dinner, and after the meal, Wesley chatted with Pastor George for a while before taking his leave and leaving.

Pastor George also sighed very much. At that time, he felt that Wesley was too dull and was not suitable for Jane. He did not expect that Wesley had changed a lot in the past few years.

"If Wesley now proposes to Jane nine years ago, maybe he will impress Jane." He told Mrs. Austin.

"Forget it, it's meaningless to talk about it now. Jane and Tom are doing well now, and with Helena again, don't mention Wesley."

"That's what I'm saying. Didn't I also think that Tom could rise to the top so quickly? Well, quickly bring my Helena and let me play with her for a while, and she should go to bed."

Sitting in the carriage, Wesley was also feeling emotional. The girl he knew when he was 14 or 5 years old was now a mother with a lovely little daughter.During the meal, Cathy took Helena with her. At first he thought it was Cathy's child and was hesitating whether to ask, but Alice said briskly that it was Jane's daughter.

He was—how was he then?There was indeed a pang of sadness in my heart, thinking that if Jane had agreed to his marriage proposal back then, maybe this cute little girl would have been his and Jane's child.

This guy William has a very clear goal. He is going to the daughter of a manor owner in the New World. His family background should not be too thin. He has an aristocratic father. He also said that he would behave better after marriage.

William has been persuading him to find a wife in the United States. American girls are generally naive and not as reserved as British girls. With a dowry, they can live a very generous life.

William's reality is terrible, maybe all his noble children are like this?Because I have seen and played everything, I have lost enthusiasm for everything.

William laughed at his naivety, "Do you think love really exists in this world? Well, you may have had love for Jane, but now? She is already someone else's wife, and she may have given birth to several Child, you will never be able to be with her. You should be more realistic and make yourself happy. Women, it will be the same after marriage. "

Wes thought William was wrong, because even if Jane were married and a mother, she must be different from other women.

Mrs. Austen also proudly mentioned that Mr. Langlois, Tom's uncle, passed away in the winter two years ago, and left an inheritance of more than 2 pounds, including some fields, a country house, and a house of 1 pounds. Cash, that money made Tom Lefroy rich all at once.Just at the beginning of this year, Tom entered the House of Commons as he wished, becoming the youngest member of the House of Commons.

So, the poor Irish boy Jane fell in love with is now a barrister, MP, husband and father.

Wesley, who has never experienced what "jealousy" is, felt deep jealousy for the first time in his life on this day.

The author has something to say:

*I told the bloody story of the couple Godwin and Wollstonecraft before.Today, let’s talk about their children and Shelley.Godwin was regarded as the No. 1798 figure in Britain at the time, and several political works had a wide audience. In 20, he had a big debate on population with Malthus, who proposed the population theory. Malthus believed that poverty is an indispensable part of society Avoiding the phenomenon that the increase in food production cannot keep up with the increase in population; Godwin admits that the social affluence he proposed will increase population pressure, but people can solve this problem by delaying the age of first marriage and abstaining from sexual intercourse before marriage.The debate between the two has been going on for at least 1820 years. In [-], Godwin published "Population: A Survey of the Power of Increasing Human Numbers".

Then let's talk about the scumbag Shelley.Born in 1792, Shelley had a knighthood in his family. He entered Eton at the age of 12 and Oxford University at the age of 18. After only one year of study, he was expelled from Oxford University for publishing a pamphlet of anti-monarchist poetry.Later, 19-year-old Shelley eloped to Scotland to marry 16-year-old Henry Yetterbrook. In 1813, 18-year-old Henry Yate gave birth to Shelley's daughter Ianthe, but soon Shelley grew tired of his wife.

Before that, Shelley began to write to Godwin, and proposed to Godwin in 1812 that Mary Wollstonecraft's eldest daughter Fanny and second daughter Mary could live with him and his wife, But Godwin felt that this was too unreliable and refused. After Ianthe was born, Shelley abandoned his wife and daughter and went to London to live in Godwin's house for a long time.

There were three girls in the Godwin family at that time: Fanny, the illegitimate daughter of Wollstonecraft and his lover, was 3 years old; Mary, the legitimate daughter of Wollstonecraft and Godwin, was under 20 years old; DeWine's second wife brought stepdaughter Claire, 17 or 15.All three girls fell in love with Shelley, and Shelley probably fell in love with Fanny, but soon Godwin sent Fanny away to avoid any scandal; Mary and Shelley quickly lit up Love is on fire, which makes Godwin furious, so Shelley runs away with Mary and Claire.Godwin immediately took Fanny back, but Fanny was very sad at this time.

Mary and Claire's elopement scandal damaged the Godwin family's reputation. A few months later, Shelley returned to London with Mary and Claire. Fanny negotiated with Shelley according to Godwin's intention, and Shelley agreed to pay 1200 Sterling to help Godwin pay off some of his debts.

Fanny had a good relationship with her half-sister and often visited Mary; Mary gave birth to a daughter at the age of 17 and a half, but the child died soon; a year later, in January 1, Mary gave birth to another boy at the age of 1816 and a half William, named after his grandfather.Mary began writing Frankenstein after the birth of her second child.

In October 1816, 10-year-old Fanny committed suicide by taking laudanum.Later biographers believe that Fanny still loved Shelley, and after she failed to woo Shelley, she committed suicide in despair.

In December 1816, 12-year-old Henry Yate committed suicide by jumping into a lake in Hyde Park.

On December 12, Shelley married 30-year-old Mary Godwin.

Mary's stepsister Claire became the lover of Shelley's friend Byron during their stay in Switzerland (summer 1816), but was later abandoned by Byron.Claire gave birth to Byron's illegitimate daughter Allegra in 1817.

*To sum up, Godwin's family environment and family education are extremely bad. Godwin's second wife doesn't like the two daughters left by Wollstonecraft, and she doesn't seem to care much about her own daughter. Care, so the young, beautiful and rich aristocrat Shelley came to this house, all three girls fell in love with him, and left the house at every opportunity.

*The scandal of Godwin's family at that time can be said to be very bloody, and Godwin's reputation was seriously damaged by his deceased wife and daughters.Godwin was in considerable debt and was quite dependent on Shelley's financial aid.At that time, it was common for decent people in London to be in debt. Even the nobles were in debt. Some people owed tens of thousands of pounds. Even the Prince of Wales owed a lot of debt, so why is it important to marry a wife with a high annuity.

* Shelley has many children, Henry Yate's daughter Ianthe and son Charles; Mary's daughter (unknown) and son William and daughter Clara and son Percy; another daughter Elena whose mother is unknown, some people think Elena's mother is Claire .The 3 children who survived were Ianthe, Charles and Percy. Percy inherited the Shelley title.