A Memoir of Jane Austen

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CHAPTER V
Description of Jane Austen’s person, character, and tastes°
AS my memoir has now reached the period when I saw a great
deal of my aunt, and was old enough to understand something of
her value, I will here attempt a description of her person, mind,
and habits. In person she was very attractive; her figure was
rather tall and slender, her step light and firm, and her whole
appearance expressive of health and animation. In complexion
she was a clear brunette with a rich colour; she had full round
cheeks, with mouth and nose small and well formed, bright hazel
eyes, and brown hair forming natural curls close round her face.
If not so regularly handsome as her sister, yet her countenance
had a peculiar charm of its own to the eyes of most beholders. At
the time of which I am now writing, she never was seen, either
morning or evening, without a cap; I believe that she and her
sister were generally thought to have taken to the garb of middle
age earlier than their years or their looks required; and that,
though remarkably neat in their dress as in all their ways, they
were scarcely sufficiently regardful of the fashionable, or the
becoming.
She was not highly accomplished according to the present
standard. Her sister drew well, and it is from a drawing of hers
that the likeness prefixed to this volume has been taken.° Jane
herself was fond of music, and had a sweet voice, both in singing
and in conversation; in her youth she had received some instruction
on the pianoforte; and at Chawton she practised daily, chiefly
before breakfast. I believe she did so partly that she might not
disturb the rest of the party who were less fond of music. In the
evening she would sometimes sing, to her own accompaniment,
some simple old songs, the words and airs of which, now never
heard, still linger in my memory.°
She read French with facility, and knew something of Italian.°