Jane and her sister Cassandra took lodgings in College Street. They had
two kind friends living in the Close, Mrs. Heathcote and Miss Bigg, the
mother and aunt of the present Sir Wm. Heathcote of Hursley, between
whose family and ours a close friendship has existed for several
generations. These friends did all that they could to promote the
comfort of the sisters, during that sad sojourn in Winchester, both by
their society, and by supplying those little conveniences in which a
lodging-house was likely to be deficient. It was shortly after settling
in these lodgings that she wrote to a nephew the following characteristic
letter, no longer, alas in her former strong, clear hand.

'Mrs. David's, College St., Winton,
'Tuesday, May 27th.

'There is no better way, my dearest E., of thanking you for your
affectionate concern for me during my illness than by telling you
myself, as soon as possible, that I continue to get better. I will
not boast of my handwriting; neither that nor my face have yet
recovered their proper beauty, but in other respects I gain strength
very fast. I am now out of bed from 9 in the morning to 10 at night:
upon the sofa, it is true, but I eat my meals with aunt Cassandra in a
rational way, and can employ myself, and walk from one room to
another. Mr. Lyford says he will cure me, and if he fails, I shall
draw up a memorial and lay it before the Dean and Chapter, and have no
doubt of redress from that pious, learned, and disinterested body. Our
lodgings are very comfortable. We have a neat little drawing-room
with a bow window overlooking Dr. Gabell's garden. {173} Thanks to
the kindness of your father and mother in sending me their carriage,
my journey hither on Saturday was performed with very little fatigue,
and had it been a fine day, I think I should have felt none; but it