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Jane Austen Society of Australia
Writing Competition 1997 winner
Mrs Elton writes to her sister, Mrs Suckling

Topic: write as one of the characters who was at the event, a description of a social gathering in a Jane Austen novel. (maximum length: 700 words)

Judges: Marjorie Jones, Alice Oppen and Meghan Hayward.

Highbury, May 18—

My dear sister

I am obliged to you for two letters, and must apologise for my own tardiness in replying, but we brides, you know, have so many calls on our time! Mr E. and I are quite the fashion; you would not believe what a life of absolute dissipation we lead – hardly a disengaged evening. My pianoforte is positively neglected, and you know, my dear Selina, how much my music means to me.

The evening parties here are nothing to Bath or Maple Grove. Often there is but one drawing-room, no ice, and as for the rout-cakes ... But I do not repine. Here I must be content – for the time being. I do not doubt of my lord and master being speedily promoted to something more fashionable and influential, and who knows but that he may eventually succeed to a stall in Westminister?

But I must tell you of our latest evening engagement. We have dined at Hartfield! Yes, my dear sister, the high-and-mighty Miss Emma Woodhouse finally deigned to invite us. She thinks herself the leader of local society, although I do not believe she has been five miles from the village, and does not possess a barouche-landau. But she is everywhere so idolised and cried up and I could not but feel it a slight that we had not been paid this attention.

I wore my lace dress, and my pearls, of course, and upon my word, I did not see anything superior. I do not aspire to be a fine lady, but as you know, much is expected of a bride. We were eight at table: Knightley, and John Knightley — I had not before met him and do not think him as agreeable as his brother, he spoke barely a word to me; that sweet Jane Fairfax, and here I was able to be of some help in the matter of fetching her letters and advising on the procurement of an eligible situation. Dear Jane, she was so grateful! In elegance and deportment, as well as musical ability, I believe her much the superior of Emma Woodhouse, who monopolised the evening as usual, even drawing John Knightley away from me to talk of his children. I noted their ill-breeding in excluding me from the conversation, but said nothing. The father, old Mr Woodhouse, was very distinguishing in his attentions; I believe I am a favourite there and perhaps that does not sit well with Miss. Mrs Weston — quite a lady, considering she was once a governess. Weston was delayed by business; I believe his hastening to join us after dinner was in compliment to me and indeed he spent some time talking to me of his son, Frank Churchill, whom he hopes to introduce to my notice very soon.

I was glad to be spared the company of that little upstart, Harriet Smith. She is forever forced upon my notice and I find it most disagreeable to be obliged to mix with persons of such low degree. Nothing is known of her parentage, you know, except what is discreditable. I have not spoken of this before, Selina, as I thought you would hardly credit it, but would you believe she once set her cap at my caro sposo? You would think such persons would know their level. Highbury society is sometimes a deal too lax, and you know I have a disgust of such modern ease, and a vast dislike of pert misses. Indeed, sister, I sometimes wonder if Emma Woodhouse herself did not have ideas of Mr E. Admittedly, the fortune is all on her side, but there are few such fine-looking and genteel men in her set. Once cannot suppose that Knightley would ever marry; he is quite the bachelor. I have tried to draw my lord and master on this subject, but he is too much the gentleman, and will only say he cannot betray a lady. But do not you think it likely, my dear sister, that it would partly account for this lady’s jealousy of me?

Pray excuse me now, as the carriage is at the door. My compliments to Mr Suckling, and Mr E. joins me in hoping we will see you at the Vicarage in the course of the summer.

Yr. affecte: sister
Augusta Elton

Julia Ermert

FEEDBACK: info@jasa.net.au

30 January 2002

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Other winners:
2nd prize $50 ~ Shirley Byrne writing as Mrs Norris musing over the ball given at Mansfield Park for Fanny the previous evening
3rd prize $25 ~ Keryne Rosato who chose the gentle and voluble Miss Bates, in monologue mode after Emma and Harriet visit.