A Memoir of Jane Austen

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Appendix 197
was all that a novelist could afford properly to exhibit.’––Mrs.
Barrett used to add, ‘Anne Elliott was herself; her enthusiasm for
the navy, and her perfect unselfishness reflect her completely.’
I wish I had more to write. I often approached the subject, but
4 years have passed away since Mrs. Barrett died.
.... Very truly yours
G. D. Boyle
(Vicar of Kidderminster.)
12. Extract from ‘Family History by Fanny C. Lefroy’ (HRO,
MS 23M93/85/2°).
In a note to my Father [Ben Lefroy] announcing her death Sir
Francis Austen writes. ‘I do not know if you have heard how very
unfavourable the accounts which were brought from Winchester
yesterday by my brother were. If not you and Anna will be the
more shocked to hear that all is over. My dear sister was seized at
five yesterday evening with extreme faintness and on M r. Lyfords
arriving soon after he pronounced her to be dying. She breathed
her last at half past four this morning and went off without a
struggle. My mother bears the shock as well as can be expected,
and we have the satisfaction of hearing that M rs. J. Austen and
Cassandra are well.’
None of her nieces mourned her more deeply than did our
mother. I might go further, and say not any one of them so much.
She wrote immediately to her Grandmother offering to go to her.
I copy the reply.
‘I thank you sincerely for all your kind expressions and your
offer. I am certainly in a good deal of affliction, but trust God will
support me. I was not prepared for the blow for though it in a
manner hung over us, I had reason to think it at a distance, and
was not quite without hope that she might in part recover. After a
four months illness she may be said to have died suddenly. M r.
Lyford supposed a large blood vessel had given way. I hope her
sufferings were not severe–– they were not long. I had a letter
from Cassandra this morning. She is in great affliction but bears