concluded and the money paid, but not till then, the negotiator had the
satisfaction of informing him that the work which had been so lightly
esteemed was by the author of 'Pride and Prejudice.' I do not think that
she was herself much mortified by the want of early success. She wrote
for her own amusement. Money, though acceptable, was not necessary for
the moderate expenses of her quiet home. Above all, she was blessed with
a cheerful contented disposition, and an humble mind; and so lowly did
she esteem her own claims, that when she received 150_l_. from the sale
of 'Sense and Sensibility,' she considered it a prodigious recompense for
that which had cost her nothing. It cannot be supposed, however, that
she was altogether insensible to the superiority of her own workmanship
over that of some contemporaries who were then enjoying a brief
popularity. Indeed a few touches in the following extracts from two of
her letters show that she was as quicksighted to absurdities in
composition as to those in living persons.

'Mr. C.'s opinion is gone down in my list; but as my paper relates
only to "Mansfield Park," I may fortunately excuse myself from
entering Mr. D's. I will redeem my credit with him by writing a close
imitation of "Self-Control," as soon as I can. I will improve upon
it. My heroine shall not only be wafted down an American river in a
boat by herself. She shall cross the Atlantic in the same way; and
never stop till she reaches Gravesend.'

'We have got "Rosanne" in our Society, and find it much as you
describe it; very good and clever, but tedious. Mrs. Hawkins' great
excellence is on serious subjects. There are some very delightful
conversations and reflections on religion: but on lighter topics I
think she falls into many absurdities; and, as to love, her heroine
has very comical feelings. There are a thousand improbabilities in