little miss austin

The letters received during the trip, materials written down, travel notes, and the new book just finished were all packed in a suitcase and sent to her bedroom.She stores letters from her family and letters from teachers and friends separately, and puts materials and travel notes in the study, as well as new books.

There are also poems written by Byron for her, which must be kept well.

Alas, if Lady Catherine were dead, he might never write such light and lovely love poems again.

Bundle each person's letters separately and put them one by one in one of the drawers of the chest of drawers.

Oliver didn't write many letters, and he didn't say much passionate love talk. It just said what he did today, who or what he saw, it was very plain.Byron said he was "boring", maybe he was too boring. His temperament is not suitable for being a genius strategist. It's not that he's not smart enough, but he's not smart enough. no problem.

Oh, and he didn't mention what she took from his nightstand, so he probably didn't know what to say, so he just pretended not to know.It must have been funny to think of the look on his face at the time.

Becoming a "woman" seems to be no different.

She was still her, the youngest of the Austins, and nothing had changed.

People's desire is really strange. Desire is invisible, but it drives people to do many things. Some things are beautiful, while others are cruel.

However, mother should not know about this matter, and it is best not to tell my sisters. If my mother finds out, she will be furious and may force her to recite the Bible in front of her father's tombstone; Don't love the George or Gabriel question anymore.Just thinking about it is scary.

The next day, Alice went home early in the morning.

Mrs. Austen also felt very sudden, but very happy.

"Let me take a good look at you—" She looked her little daughter up and down, "Look, you've been away for more than two years, and you even forgot that you still have a mother."

"Oh Mom! I'll never forget you. I brought you all presents, Sidney—" she beamed. "I've been to a lot of places, and I've painted some places. Mom, you should go to the Mediterranean too. Look, the sea in Greece is very beautiful! The clear blue water can make people forget all their troubles - I also ate a lot of delicious food, the seafood is delicious!"

She was busy talking about the beautiful scenery she saw and the food she ate during the journey. Halfway through, two 17- and 8-year-old girls entered the living room arm in arm.

She stopped and looked at them both in surprise.

"Aunt Alice." The two girls called her together.

She smiled suddenly, "I thought there was a visitor at home, Fanny, Anna."

Fanny is the first third generation in her family. She is the eldest sister in her own family and the Austin family. Although she is only 3 months older than Anna, she is stronger in everything. When they were young, Alice called Anna first, and then Fanny was very sad when I lost her, and showed that I was the sister.

Alice had last seen Fanny when she was a girl of fifteen and a half; now she was eighteen and a half.

Anna had seen her before she got tuberculosis, but she hadn't seen her for more than 4 years. The thin girl back then is now slim.

She couldn't help sighing: Sure enough, 17 and 8 years old are really like flowers, and youth is infinitely beautiful.

So this is why Byron always likes those young men and women. They have precious innocence and purity.

Mrs. Austen was also very happy to see her two beautiful granddaughters, and soon said that since she came back, she would ask Henry to hold a ball. She and her two nieces will attend the ball together. Whom does she want to invite to the ball? Wo was still in London a while ago, when will Oliver be able to return to China.

Alice felt right away her mother's hidden enthusiasm for marriage.

Fanny and Anna were looking forward to the ball, they were both of marriageable age, and they had received the education that women had to marry and have children, and if nothing else happened, they would be married within a few years.Alice

Si is 21 and a half years old, so she is not very old. In London, there are quite a few girls who don’t get married until they are 25. Mrs. Austin is still very optimistic. She thinks that Alice was young and ignorant before, but now that she has traveled a lot, maybe she will. change idea.

What mother meant was to invite her to invite all the unmarried men she knew in London, so she made a list and sent someone to Brother Henry.She understands her mother's thoughts. There are not many excellent young men, so you have to be optimistic and start as soon as possible. Even if Alice doesn't want to get married, there are still two nieces who want to get married at home.

She thought that her nieces were going to get married anyway, so of course she had to try her best to find a husband with decent conditions and good character, which wasn't too difficult.

As for herself, it is a year if she can delay it for a year, and after a few years, her mother will give up.

Fanny was in London, and Cathy was of course in Kent.Cathy came back for a few months in the spring, and when the summer social season came, Fanny came again.

Speaking of which, Fanny's conditions are not as good as Anna's. Anna has a stepmother who cares about her very much. She is more naive and has more dowry than Fanny. I heard that there is already a regular suitor, and it will probably be soon. to propose.

Fanny was a little bit of an underachiever.Her social class is actually slightly higher than Anna's, but her dowry is not as good as Anna's, so the range of choices is much smaller.

Henry's reply was sent back quickly, saying that he knew and would inform them of the date of the ball.

At night, Alice sleeps in her room.

Her clothes are still in the closet, including the black dress she wore to her father's funeral.

Sidney brought her some dresses and put them in the wardrobe.The skirts made abroad are very bright in color. Byron likes bright colors and patterns. Compared with the skirts she wore a few years ago, they were really dusty.

I can't even wear the skirts I used to wear—it's because she eats too much every day abroad, and eats a little too much.

The shoes can still be worn, and I put on indoor slippers.

I haven't been home to sleep for several years, and it feels a bit... strange.

She thought she would have to toss and turn for a while, but within a few minutes, she fell asleep.

Waking up in the morning, Fanny and Anna arranged the affairs of the house in an orderly manner, and the servant brought hot water for her to wash.

Kate came to do her hair, she sent Sidney home last night.

Kate has been abroad for more than two years, and now she has become a big-hearted girl. She has also been brainwashed by her own lady. If she wants to have a free marriage, she must have financial freedom. She is the second daughter, and her temper is not as gentle as Sydney. Strong-minded girl.She used to tell Alice how things were at home, how their parents had taken almost all of Jacob's and Sidney's wages, and that they would hardly have looked like the lady's favorite valet and valet without tips and bonuses.

It is said that the parents bought a small house with the money, and nothing else. They neither bought a house for Jacob, nor prepared a dowry for Sidney. The younger brothers in the family were apprentices, and the younger sisters were all grown up. Yes, the youngest sister is also 6 years old, and soon it will be time to go out to work.The family is really not very poor, so she is not willing to take all her salary home.

Alice frowned, "Does Jacob have no money to use?" You must know that the ranks among the servants are also very strict, and there are social activities, and people pay attention to clothes regardless of class. If you don't wear clothes, you will be ridiculed and looked down upon.

"Not as rich as Mr. Hobhouse's valet anyway."

"He can't do this. It's not that you can't give money to your parents, but you must take care of yourself first. You see, you don't need to spend extra money for food and lodging, and you and Sidney don't need to spend your own money on clothes. You should be able to save a whole lot of your salary." Mostly right. Jacob’s salary is higher than the sum of the two of you. He’s different. He’s doing errands outside. It’s okay if he doesn’t wear better clothes. Too mean?"

Kate hurriedly said: "Miss has been very generous to us."

"You keep your salary for yourself. Did you see it when you went abroad with me this time? Money is everything,

Only then can we have a happy life. "

Kate nodded vigorously.In this day and age, for a rural commoner girl like her, a dowry of 50 pounds is considered generous. Based on the salary Sidney received after she became Alice's personal maid, she should have saved 50 pounds long ago.

Alice gave Sidney a week off, but Sidney only stayed at home for 2 days before returning.

"Why did you come back so early?" Alice asked with a frown when she saw Sidney come in while taking a portrait of Mrs. Austin in the well-lit housekeeping room.

Sidney turned pale and forced a smile, "I miss Miss." She then saluted Mrs. Austin, "Ma'am."

"Did your parents say something? Is it money?" The three brothers and sisters went out with her for more than 3 years, but they couldn't pay the salary to the family in time. Jacob hasn't come home after going out for errands these days. His parents must be looking for Sidney. I want money.

Sidney looked at Mrs. Austin timidly, "They... want me to give them 100 pounds."

The salaries of the three brothers and sisters over the past two years are indeed 3 pounds, but they also need to spend money, especially girls, if they go abroad to see something interesting and beautiful, they also need to buy it, and it is impossible to spend some money on their own don't spend.Alice would sometimes drop by to pay their bills, but if the siblings went shopping by themselves, they would have to use their own money.

In addition to the fixed salary, the servant’s income also includes tips for running errands. Sometimes when meeting a generous master, the tip may be higher than the salary. Like Jacob, who mainly works outside, he gets more tips.When he went abroad this time, his ability to handle affairs was unanimously affirmed by the young masters. Hobhouse always sent him to do affairs when his servants were too busy, and gave him generous tips; then Grant, he also I like to use Jacob to do things. After all, he brings all black servants, which is often not as convenient as white people.

So speaking of it, his parents wanted 100 pounds, which was quite a reasonable figure.

"You did?" Alice asked.

"I... how can I have 100 pounds? Kate keeps the money herself, Jacob said-I think my father may owe a lot of money."

Alice pretended not to hear a word about Jacob.Jacob is 26 years old, and it's okay to have a little bit of his own mind. "Arrears? Did he go to gamble?"

Mrs. Austin frowned disapprovingly, "Gambling corrupts people."

Alice agrees with her mother on this point, "It's really bad."

Sidney said: "I don't know, but there is really no place to borrow money in the family." The house is bought, the children have grown up, several of them have started to make money, and no children are married yet, the daily expenses are clothes and food .

"Gambling makes people crazy. Well, when Jacob comes back, I'll let him go home and have a look. It's okay to say anything else, if he goes to gamble, no amount of money will be enough to fill it in." She frowned, the situation at Jacob's house was a bit disturbing.But according to Jacob's ability to handle affairs, he should be able to handle his parents' problems.

This is a common thing in ordinary civilian families. It is often the case in families with many children. If children grow up and make money, it is also necessary to give back to their parents, but first of all, they must live a good life.It is true that parents have sacrificed for their children, but after all, children are not the property of parents.

In short, there is no need to worry about other people's affairs. If Jacob can't handle his own parents, then she still has to hone him.

Jacob came back in the afternoon, talked to Sidney for a while, and then came to ask Alice for leave.

"If I have something to ask you, I will send someone to deliver a letter to you. Also, remember, things that can be solved with money are not big things."

Jacob smiled, "I understand."

Henry hasn't set a date for the prom yet, and the two nieces are already excitedly discussing making a few new dresses.The new fashion in London is still closely following the French fashion. The waist is getting thinner and thinner. The ladies in the upper class are starting to wear corsets, but it is not too exaggerated.

Alice doesn't like the constricting feel of corsets.She has a good figure, with moderate shoulder width, and a naturally slender waist, which is rounder than when she was ill, and her waist circumference has not increased much.

, wear any style of skirt

Good looking and curvy.

Fanny was always vexed that her girth was too thick and not slender enough.

Anna also said that her waist is not thin enough.

Young girls twittering and worrying about little things like hair, ribbons, jewellery.

"Alice, don't you like balls?" Fanny thought she was not very interested.

"I like it, but I have to have a good dance partner."

"Then who did you invite to accompany you?" Fanny asked enthusiastically.

"This is not important."

"Will it be Lord Byron?" Anna asked.

"Why him?"

"I heard that Lord Byron is very beautiful."

"Well, he's really pretty."

"What is he like?"

"He has a bad temper and often finds people to fight."

Both girls laughed, "What else?"

"Spending money is fierce and drinking a lot."

"Hearing you say that, it seems that you dislike him?"

"Not at all. In terms of advantages, he is very cute and very likable."

The girls laughed again, "Then, will Lord Byron marry you?"

"Probably not. Did Grandma send you to ask me?"

The girls pushed each other, laughed and said no.

"You don't have to worry about me. But you, you must make sure that you will agree to propose marriage if you really love that person, not because of his title, his appearance or his property."

"But I don't know what love is," said Fanny shyly.

"It's very easy. For example, if three gentlemen pursue you at the same time, you can choose whoever you are happiest with. However, of course, the character of the other party is more important than property." Man, after all, some people are very good at hiding their true colors, but if they already know that the other party is a scumbag and don't get out in time to stop the loss, then they are stupid.

Fanny nodded half understanding.

Anna was a little confused, "What if there are not so many people to choose from?"

"That depends on whether you really want to get married. In fact, it's okay if you don't get married."

The social circle in this era is actually not big, the social circle is too small, and there are not many young men of the right age who know each other, and even fewer can get to the stage of getting to know each other.

This is an era of explosive population growth in the UK. There are more women than men in several parts of the UK. Rich and handsome men can pick and choose. A husband in his 30s and a wife in his 20s are the standard age difference. Because it is generally believed that around 20 years old is the best age for women to have children.

Women have to start looking for a suitable husband at the age of 16. If they are not married at the age of 26, they basically have no hope of getting married. But Mrs. Austin really can’t blame Mrs. Austin for urging marriage all day.

The next day Mrs. Austen scolded Alice, saying that it would be fine if she didn't want to get married, and don't lead her nieces down.And heartbroken that other people are worried that there is no suitable suitor, but she is picky and picky.

Alice immediately said that she had an appointment to see Susan Beckford, and ran away.

Susan changed her husband's surname after marriage and is now Mrs. Hamilton.

The Hamiltons have a huge mansion in St James's Square, with the Duke of Hamilton on the left and Susan and her husband Alexander on the right.

"Come on, take a look at my little William." Susan was busy showing off to her when she saw her, and the nurse next to her was busy taking the little baby out of the cradle.

"He's so small, how old is he?" Alice carefully stretched out her finger and touched the little baby's face. The little guy is a very beautiful doll, after all, both parents are beautiful.

"Five months. Born in February."

"Oh, it's too small! When will he grow up!" Susan's first child was a boy, and Alice was really happy.

Happy for her, so she doesn't have to fight for the heir

Straight down.The Hamilton family has a title to inherit, and she may not be able to stop until a boy is born.

"Children, they will grow up quickly." Susan already seemed to have a child with everything to do, and she was quite adapted to the evolution from wife to mother.

Susan is 3 and a half years older than her, and just turned 25, which is not too early to have children.He also said that it was a coincidence that Alice came back. The three of them were preparing to go back to their ancestral home in Scotland for the summer in a few days.

In the evening, I went home after having dinner with Susan and Alexander. Instead of going back to Austin's house, I went back to my London residence.

When Susan got married, she was already abroad, and she didn't go to the wedding ceremony. Susan said that she was so tired that she wanted to sleep halfway through the wedding ceremony, and she was in a daze throughout the whole process.

Alexander Hamilton was indeed a good-looking, middle-aged man with good manners and a high level of artistry, not one of those pretending "I have good taste" guys, and told her all about the art in the Vatican Museums.A large part of his family property is used to acquire artworks, which is the same as his father-in-law William Beckford. The eldest son William Jr. is also named after his grandfather.

The couple get along very harmoniously, and Alexander loves his wife very much, so if an old couple and a young wife are married, it is easy to become a daughter?Probably such a pattern.

After several days of busy visits to relatives and friends, Jacob's absence, Alice did feel sometimes inconvenient.

Jane remained in London with her two daughters, while Tom Lefroy went to Dublin and would not return until November.She now has an income of at least 11 pounds a year, which is enough for a family of four to live comfortably.Tom will have an anxiety that he can't earn less than his wife.

Helena is 8 years old, and Diana is almost 5 years old. They are both beautiful little girls, wearing lace-decorated skirts. I don’t know how cute they are.Alice brought a lot of presents to her nieces, and Helena was busy unpacking the presents, and she would say "wow" every time she opened a box to express her surprise.

Diana didn't know how to enjoy the fun of unwrapping presents, so she yelled "wow" like her sister, which was very cute.

Alice is a little shocked that the nieces are growing up so fast!When she left England, Helena was only 6 years old, and the difference of 2 years old is already a big gap.

Jane laughed at her for making a fuss.Covering her face, she said, "It's so scary! Watching them grow so fast makes me feel old."

"What nonsense?" Jane ignored her exaggeration. "It's you, let me take a good look at you—you've really grown up now!"

"I'm going to be 22 in a few months."

"22 years old, how fast!" Jane sighed softly, "Is your mother nagging you again, telling you to quickly pick an engagement?"

"She said that I will continue to choose. Oliver and Ivo are engaged to others. I don't want to cry secretly. She always thinks that I should have children so that I won't be too lonely when I get old."

Jane smiled, "I won't be lonely anymore, maybe I will be very troubled by it."

"But even if it's an annoyance, Mom probably thinks it's a 'happy annoyance'."

"She's that kind of character, she can't take it easy." Jane flicked her hair—it could be pulled up, "As I said before, you have to make sure you love that person. Tell me, this time with Gordon and Byron will go out together for more than two years, have you figured it out yet?"

"Both of them, you say? They're both inappropriate."

"What's wrong with Gordon?"

"He is good everywhere, I like him very much, but I always feel that something is wrong."

"What's wrong?"

"Not ready yet."

"Where's Byron?"

"He's fine, too, but he's too bad-tempered, which I don't like."

"Temperament can be changed, it may not be very important."

"It's not very suitable anyway."

"Where's Oliver?"

"Him?" Alice thought for a while

"He's changed a bit, and I'm glad he's changed, just—how should I say it? Probably went to war

The people in the field are a little different. "