88



Her Contemporaries and Herself

Adieu, my dearest Edward, and believe me to be, with the
truest affection for you and yrs,

Y' most sincere friend,

C. K.'

There is surely something singularly touching in
the sincere affection and the delightful courtesy of
this correspondence, and it is certainly most cha-
racteristic of the race to which Miss Austen belonged.
89



Jane Austen



CHAPTER X

Mention has been made in a previous chapter of
the one slip in Miss Austen's accuracy in observation
and description of features in landscape. This slip
occurs in ' Emma,' where, to quote again from my
father's article in ' Eraser,' at almost midsummer

Strawberries are described as being eaten from the beds
at Donwell Abbey, while the orchard is in blossom at the
neighbouring Abbey Mill Farm — an anachronism which we
have never met with any horticulturist able to explain by
bringing together even the earliest and latest varieties of
apple and strawberry.
The passage in question runs thus : Emma, when the
party are on their way to see the view of Abbey
Mill Earm from Donwell, perceives ' Mr. Knightley
and Harriet distinct from the rest, quietly leading the
way.' There had been a time when Harriet Smith
and Mr. Knightley were not likely to be companions,
and when Emma would have been sorry Harriet
should see so favourable a view of Abbey Mill Earm.
