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Jane Austen love and friendship read. Jane Austen Love and Friendship Book Online Reading

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Jane Austen
Love and friendship
(Jane Austen. Love and Freindship) 1
Friendship- author's writing. "The famous typo", one of many in the original.)

"Deceived in friendship, betrayed in feelings"

Letter one

Isabella - Laure

How often, in response to my constant requests to tell my daughter in full detail about the hardships and vicissitudes of your life, you answered: “No, my friend, I will not agree to your request until I am not in danger of experiencing such horrors again. ".

Well, the time is drawing near. Today you are fifty-five years old. If you believe that a time may come when a woman is not threatened by the persistent wooing of hateful admirers and the cruel persecution of stubborn fathers, then you are now entering this time of life.

Isabel.

Letter two

Laura to Isabella

Although I cannot agree with you that there will indeed come a time when I will not be haunted by the same numerous and serious hardships that I have experienced, I am ready, in order to avoid accusations of stubbornness or bad temper, to satisfy the curiosity of your daughters. May the fortitude with which I have been able to endure the many misfortunes that have befallen me help her cope with the misfortunes that she herself will have to endure.

Laura.

letter three

Laura - Marianne

As the daughter of my closest friend, you, in my opinion, have the right to know the sad story of my life, which your mother so often begged me to tell you.

My father is from Ireland and lived in Wales; my mother was the daughter of a Scottish peer and an Italian singer; I was born in Spain and educated in a convent in France. When I was eighteen, my father encouraged me to return to my parental home in Wales. Our house was located in one of the most picturesque corners of the Aska Valley. Although now, due to the hardships I have endured, my beauty is no longer what it used to be, in my youth I was very good-looking, but I did not differ in an agreeable disposition. I possessed all the virtues of my sex. In the monastery, I always did better than others, my success for my age was unheard of, and in a very short time I surpassed my teachers.

I was the center of all conceivable virtues, being an example of integrity and nobility.

My only fault (if it can be called a fault) was my excessive sensitivity to the slightest troubles of my friends and acquaintances, and especially to my own troubles. Alas! How things have changed! Although now my own misadventures affect me no less than before, the misfortunes of others no longer concern me. My many abilities are also weakening: I am no longer able either to sing as well or to dance as gracefully as I once did - minuet de la cour 2
Minuet de la cour- court minuet (fr.).

I completely forgot.

Farewell.

Laura.

Letter Four

Laura - Marianne

The circle of our contacts was small: we did not meet with anyone except your mother. Perhaps she has already told you that after the death of her parents, who were in very difficult circumstances, she was forced to move to Wales. It was there that our friendship was born. Isabella was then in her twenty-first year, and (between us), although she was not bad-looking and very courteous, she did not have a hundredth part of that beauty and those abilities that I possessed. Isabella has really seen the world. She studied for two years at one of the best London boarding houses, spent two weeks in Bath, and even dined in Southampton one evening.

“Laura (she used to say to me more than once), beware of the colorless vanity and idle extravagance of the English capital. Stay away from the fleeting pleasures of Bath and the stinking fish of Southampton."

“Alas (I exclaimed in response)! How, pray tell, can I avoid those vices that will never come my way? How likely is it that I am destined to taste the idle life of London, the pleasures of Bath or the stinking fish of Southampton?! Me, who is destined to waste the days of my youth and beauty in a modest cottage in the Aska Valley?

Oh! Then I could not even imagine that soon, very soon I would be destined to change the modest parental home for ghostly secular pleasures.

Farewell.

Laura.

letter five

Laura - Marianne

One late December evening, as my father, mother, and I were sitting by the fireplace, we suddenly, to our great amazement, heard a loud knock at the door of our modest country dwelling. My father winced.

"What's that noise?" (he asked).

“It looks like someone is knocking loudly on our door” (mother answered).

"Indeed?!" (I screamed).

“And I am of the same opinion (said the father), the noise, no doubt, is caused by unheard of strong blows on our ramshackle door.”

“Yes (I exclaimed), it seems to me that someone is knocking on our door in search of shelter.”

“That's another question,” he countered. We must not pretend that we know why they are knocking on our door, although I am almost convinced that someone is really knocking on the door.

Then a second deafening blow on the door interrupted my father in mid-sentence and slightly alarmed my mother and me.

"Why don't you go and see who's there? (said mother). There are no servants."

"Perhaps" (I replied).

"So let's go?" (said mother).

“The sooner the better” (father answered).

"Oh, let's not waste time!" (I screamed).

Meanwhile, a third blow, even more powerful than the previous two, reverberated throughout the house.

“I am convinced that someone is knocking at the door” (said mother).

"Looks like it" (said the father).

“I think the servants have returned (I said). I think I hear Mary walking towards the door."

“And thank God!” cried the father! I have long been impatient to find out who this came to us.

My guesses were completely confirmed. Within a few moments, Mary entered the room and announced that a young gentleman and his servant were knocking at our door; they have gone astray, they are cold, and they beg to be allowed to warm themselves by the fire.

"Aren't you going to let them in?" (I asked).

"Do you mind, dear?" (asked the father).

"Of course not" (answered the mother).

Without waiting for further instructions, Mary immediately left the room and soon returned with the most handsome and affable young man I have ever seen. She took the servant to her.

The suffering of the unlucky stranger had already made a strong impression on my subtle nature, so as soon as I met his eyes, I felt that the happiness or misfortune of my whole life would depend on this person.

Farewell.

Laura.

letter six

Laura - Marianne

The noble young man told us that his name was Lindsay - for my own reasons, however, henceforth I will call him "Talbot". He said that his father was an English baronet, that his mother had died many years ago, and that he had a sister of very average ability.

“My father,” he continued, “is a vile and mercenary scoundrel—I speak of this only to you, my closest, most devoted friends. Your virtues, my dear Polydor (he continued, turning to my father), and yours, dear Claudia, and yours, my lovely Laura, allow me to trust you completely. We bowed. “My father, seduced by the ghostly glare of wealth and high-profile titles, demands that I without fail marry Lady Dorothea. But this will not happen! Lady Dorothea, no words, lovely and charming, I would prefer her to any other woman, but know, sir (I told him), I do not intend to take her as a wife, pandering to your whims! No! I will never follow my father's lead!"

We all listened with admiration to these courageous speeches. Meanwhile the young man continued:

“Sir Edward was surprised; perhaps he did not expect such a harsh retort.

- Tell me, Edward (he cried), where did you pick up this utter nonsense? I suspect it's from the novels.

I said nothing: it was below my dignity to answer. Instead, I jumped into the saddle and, accompanied by the faithful William, went to my aunts.

My father's estate is in Bedfordshire, my aunt lives in Middlesex, and although I always seemed to me that my knowledge of geography was quite tolerable, I suddenly found myself in this pretty valley, which, as far as I can tell, is in South Wales, and not in Middlesex.

After wandering along the banks of the Ask for some time, I suddenly realized that I did not know which way to go, and began to lament my bitter fate. In the meantime, it was getting dark, there was not a single star in the sky that could guide my steps, and it is hard to say what would have become of me if, after some time, I had not seen a distant light in the pitch darkness surrounding me, which, when I approached turned out to be a fire burning invitingly in your fireplace. Haunted by all sorts of misfortunes, namely fear, cold and hunger, I did not hesitate to ask for shelter, which, though not immediately, was given to me. And now, my adored Laura (he continued, taking my hand), tell me, can I hope that I will be rewarded for all the misfortunes that I have had to endure? Tell me, when will I be rewarded by you?

"This very minute, dear and kind Edward (I answered)."

And we were immediately betrothed to my father, who, although he was not a priest, received a theological education.

Farewell.

Laura.

letter seven

Laura - Marianne

After spending a few days after the wedding in the valley of Asca, I tenderly said goodbye to my father, mother and my Isabella, and went with Edward to Middlesex to his aunt. Philippa received us with the most sincere and warm feelings. My arrival turned out to be a very pleasant surprise for her, for not only did she know absolutely nothing about my marriage to her nephew, but she had not the slightest idea of my existence.

At this time, Edward's sister, Augusta, a girl and indeed of very modest abilities, was visiting her at home. She greeted me with no less surprise, but not at all with the same cordiality as Philippa. There was an uncomfortably coldness and a repulsive reserve in the way she received me that was both sad and unexpected in equal measure. During our first meeting, she showed neither the lively interest nor the touching sympathy that is so characteristic of people meeting for the first time. She did not use warm words, there was neither liveliness nor cordiality in her signs of attention; I opened my arms to her, preparing to press her to my heart, but she did not reciprocate.

A short conversation between Augusta and her brother, which I involuntarily overheard while standing outside the door, increased my dislike for her still more and convinced me that her heart was no more created for the tenderness of love than for the close bonds of friendship.

“Do you really think that the priest will ever put up with this reckless relationship (asked Augusta)?”

“Augusta (answered the noble young man), I must confess that I thought you had a better opinion of me. Did you really think that I was capable of lowering myself so low as to attach importance to my father's interference in my affairs? Tell me, Augusta, tell me with all sincerity: do you remember that at least once, since I was fifteen, I turned to my father for advice or inquired about his opinion in any, even the most trifling matter?

“Edward,” she objected, “I think you underestimate yourself. My dear brother, you have not indulged the whims of the priest since the age of five, and not since fifteen! And yet I have a presentiment that, turning to your father with a request to show generosity to your wife, you will very soon be forced to lower yourself in your own eyes.

“Never, never, Augusta, will I lose my dignity in this way (Edward said). Show generosity! Laura does not need her father's generosity at all! What help do you think he can give her?

"Well, at least the most insignificant in the form of food and wine (she answered)."

“Food and wine (my husband flared up)! Don't you think that such an exalted mind as that of my Laura, more than anything in the world, needs such base and insignificant things as food and wine ?!

“But in my opinion, there is nothing more sublime (retorted Augusta)!”

“Have you never experienced the sweet pangs of love, Augusta (replied my Edward)? Is it impossible for your perverted taste to live in love? Can't you imagine what happiness it is to live with your loved one, even without a penny for your soul?

“You (said Augusta) are impossible to argue with. Perhaps, however, over time you will be able to convince that ... "

I was prevented from hearing the end of her speech by a very beautiful young lady; she burst into the room, throwing open the door behind which I was standing. When I heard that the footman had introduced her to "Lady Dorothea," I immediately followed her into the drawing-room, for I well remembered that this same lady had been proposed to my Edward as a wife by a ruthless and hard-hearted baronet.

Although, on a formal basis, Lady Dorothea paid Philippa and Augusta her visit, I have some reason to believe that (having learned about Edward's marriage and his arrival) the main reason for her appearance was the desire to see me.

I soon noticed that, although Lady Dorothea was pretty and courteous, in all respects of refined thoughts, receptivity and tender feelings, she belonged to creatures as inferior as Augusta.

She spent no more than half an hour at Philippa's house, and during that time she never shared her secret thoughts with me, did not call me to a confidential conversation. Therefore, you can easily imagine, my dear Marianne, that I did not kindle with tender feelings for Lady Dorothea, did not feel sincere affection for her.

Farewell.

Laura.

Letter eight

Laura - Marianne (in continuation of the previous one)

No sooner had Lady Dorothea left us than another visitor showed up, and just as unexpectedly. It was Sir Edward; Having learned from Augusta about the wedding of her brother, he, no doubt, came to reproach his son for daring to be engaged to me without his knowledge. However, Edward was ahead of him: as soon as Sir Edward entered the room, he, with his usual decisiveness, turned to his father with the following words:

“Sir Edward, I know what purpose you had in coming here. You have come with the vile intention of reproaching me for having entered into an indissoluble alliance with my Laura without your consent. But, sir, I am proud of this union ... I am proud that I displeased my father!

And with these words he took me by the hand, and, while Sir Edward, Philippa, and Augusta were paying tribute in their thoughts to his unparalleled courage, he led me out of the house to my father's carriage, which was still standing at the door, and we immediately set off, fleeing from Sir's pursuit. Edward.

At first the postilions were ordered to take the London road, but, on sober reflection, we ordered to go to M., the city in which Edward's closest friend lived and which was only a few miles away.

We arrived at M. a few hours later and, having identified ourselves, were immediately received by Sophia, the wife of Edward's friend. Imagine my feelings when, having lost my closest friend three weeks ago (for I consider your mother to be such), I suddenly realized that I saw in front of me the one who truly deserves to be called her. Sophia was slightly above average height and superbly built. From her charming features blew a slight languor, which made her seem even more beautiful ... Sensitivity was her hallmark. We threw ourselves into each other's arms and, vowing to be faithful to our friendship until the end of our days, immediately told each other our most cherished secrets ... Our heart-to-heart conversation was interrupted by Augustus, Edward's friend, who, as usual, walked alone and had just returned.

Never before had I witnessed such a touching scene as the meeting between Edward and Augustus.

"My life! My soul!" (exclaimed the first).

"My beloved angel!" (answered the second).

And they threw themselves into each other's arms. This scene made an indelible impression on Sofia and me ... One after another, we collapsed on the sofa without feeling.

Farewell.

Laura.

Letter nine

Same - same

By the end of the day we received the following letter from Philippa:

“Your sudden departure infuriated Sir Edward. He took Augusta to his place in Bedfordshire. No matter how much I want to enjoy your lovely company again, I can’t bring myself to separate you from such close and worthy friends ... When your visit to them is over, I hope you will return to the arms of your Philippa.

We responded accordingly to this emotional message and, thanking Philippa for the kind invitation, assured her that if we had nowhere to go, we would certainly use it. Although any sane being would have liked such a noble answer, she, with her characteristic willfulness, remained dissatisfied with us and a few weeks later, either wanting to avenge us for our behavior, or to change her lonely existence, she married a young and uneducated seeker. adventure. This unwise move (although we knew that it would very likely deprive us of the inheritance we were entitled to expect from Philippa) did not, in all our sensitivity, draw a breath from us. At the same time, out of fear that this step would become a source of endless suffering for the deceived bride, what happened when we first learned about it excited us extremely. The impassioned appeals of Augustus and Sophia to consider their house as our home easily persuaded us never to part with them again. In the company of my Edward and this lovely couple I spent the happiest moments of my life. Time flew by in mutual assurances of unchanging friendship and eternal love, which importunate and uninvited visitors did not interfere with our enjoyment: returning home, Augustus and Sophia took care in a very timely manner to inform their neighbors that, as soon as their happiness depended entirely on only from themselves, they no longer need anyone's company. But, alas, my dear Marianne! Such happiness as I then indulged in was too cloudless to last forever, and all our joys were destroyed at once by one terrible and sudden blow. After all that I have already told you about Augustus and Sophia, the happier couple in the world, I think there is no need to explain to you that their union was not part of the plans of their cruel and selfish parents, who, with exceptional persistence, tried in vain force both Augustus and Philippa to go down the aisle with those who were deeply hated by them. Despite all these efforts, young people with heroic fortitude, worthy of admiration and admiration, flatly refused to submit to parental despotism.

After concluding a secret marriage, Augustus and Sophia threw off the shackles of parental arbitrariness, they determined not to compromise the good opinion of themselves, which they had won in the world, and not to accept the offer of their parents to conclude a truce - thereby even more courageously defending their noble independence, on which , however, no one else attempted.

When we arrived, young people had been married for several months, while they lived in a big way. The fact is that a few days before getting engaged to Sophia, the enterprising Augustus managed to steal a very significant amount of money from his unworthy father's secretary.

By our arrival, however, their expenses had increased significantly, and the funds were almost completely spent. Despite this, these exalted beings considered it humiliating for themselves to even for a moment think about their plight, and the mere thought of paying off their debts plunged them into a blush of shame. And what was the reward for such disinterested behavior?! The incomparable Augustus was arrested, and we realized that we were all finished. Such a perfidious betrayal by the ruthless and unscrupulous villains who committed this dirty deed will surely hurt your tender soul, dearest Marianne, no less than it shocked Edward, Sophia, your Laura, and even Augustus himself. To top off this incomparable barbarity, we were informed that a search would be carried out in the house very soon. Oh, what were we to do?! We let out a deep breath and fell unconscious on the sofa.

Farewell.

Laura.

Letter ten

Laura - Marianne (continuation)

When we had recovered a little from the bitter feelings that had seized us, Edward urged us to think about what to do in this situation - in the meantime, he would go to visit his imprisoned friend to mourn his bitter fate with him. We promised that we would think about it, and he left for the city. In his absence, we carried out his wish and after much deliberation came to the conclusion that it would be best for us to leave the house, where at any moment the bailiffs could break in. And so we waited with great impatience for Edward's return, in order to inform him of the results of our reflections. However, Edward did not return. In vain did we count the minutes until his return, in vain we wept, in vain even sighed - Edward was not there. For our tender feelings, it was too cruel, too unexpected a blow; there was nothing we could do except faint. Finally, mustering all the determination I could muster, I got up and, packing my things and Sophia's, brought her to the carriage, which I had prudently ordered to be pawned, and we immediately set off for London. Since Augustus' house was only twelve miles from the city, we entered the capital pretty soon, and, once in Holborn, I began to ask every decently dressed person who passed by if they had seen my Edward.

But because we were driving too fast and passers-by did not have time to answer my questions, I must admit that I found out little, or rather, nothing at all.

"Where would you like to go?" asked the postilion.

"To Newgate Prison, 3
To Newgate Prison... until the middle of the 19th century. convicts were hanged in public in front of Newgate Prison in London; at present, on the site of the demolished prison in 1902, stands the building of the Old Bailey Central Criminal Court.

Nice young man (I answered), to Augustus.

“Oh no, no,” Sophia exclaimed, “not that, I can’t go to Newgate. I cannot bear the sight of my Augustus in such a monstrous dungeon. Even the story of his suffering darkens my soul; if I see with my own eyes how he is tormented, I will not stand it ... "

Since I fully agreed with Sophia's assessment of her feelings, the postilion was immediately ordered to return to the village. It may surprise you, my dear Marianne, that in the distress in which I then found myself, deprived of any help and without a roof over my head, I never once remembered my father and mother, and also my parents' shelter in the valley of Ask. In order to somehow explain my forgetfulness, I must tell you one minor circumstance that I have not mentioned yet. I mean the death of my parents, which happened a few weeks after my departure. After their death, I became the rightful heir to their house and fortune. But alas! The house, as it turned out, was never their property, and the fortune was just their life annuity. Such is the injustice of the world! I would return to your mother with great pleasure, would be happy to introduce her to my lovely Sophia and would gladly spend the rest of my days in their company in the valley of Asca, if one circumstance did not prevent the implementation of these rosy plans, namely: your mother went out married and moved to Ireland.

Farewell.

"Deceived in friendship, betrayed in feelings"

Letter one

Isabella - Laure

Isabel.

Letter two

Laura - Isabella

letter three

Laura - Marianne

As the daughter of my closest friend, you, in my opinion, have the right to know the sad story of my life, which your mother so often begged me to tell you.

I was the center of all conceivable virtues, being an example of integrity and nobility.

My only fault (if it can be called a fault) was my excessive sensitivity to the slightest troubles of my friends and acquaintances, and especially to my own troubles. Alas! How things have changed! Although now my own misadventures affect me no less than before, the misfortunes of others no longer concern me. My numerous abilities are also weakening: I am no longer able either to sing as well or to dance as gracefully as I once did - I completely forgot the minuet de la cour.

Farewell.

Letter Four

Laura - Marianne

Oh! Then I could not even imagine that soon, very soon I would be destined to change the modest parental home for ghostly secular pleasures.

Farewell.

letter five

Laura - Marianne

"What's that noise?" (he asked).

“It looks like someone is knocking loudly on our door” (mother answered).

"Indeed?!" (I screamed).

* * *

This novel is dedicated to the Comtesse de Fevilide by the author, her obedient and devoted servant

Deceived in friendship

devoted in feelings.

Letter one

Isabella - Laure

How often, in response to my constant requests to tell my daughter in full detail about the hardships and vicissitudes of your life, you answered:

“No, my friend, I will not agree to your request until I am in no danger of experiencing such horrors again.”

Isabel

Letter two

Laura to Isabella

Although I cannot agree with you that there will indeed come a time when I will not be haunted by the same numerous and serious hardships that I have experienced, I am ready, in order to avoid accusations of stubbornness or bad temper, to satisfy the curiosity of your daughters. May the fortitude with which I have been able to endure the many misfortunes that have befallen me help her to cope with the misfortunes that she herself will have to endure.

Laura

letter three

Laura - Marianne

As the daughter of my closest friend, I believe you have a right to know the sad story of my life, which your mother so often begged me to tell you.

My father is from Ireland and lived in Wales; my mother was the daughter of a Scottish peer and an Italian singer; I was born in Spain and educated in a convent in France. When I was eighteen, my father encouraged me to return to my parental home in Wales. Our house was located in one of the most picturesque corners of the Aska Valley. Although now, due to the hardships I have endured, my beauty is no longer what it used to be, in my youth I was very good-looking, but I did not differ in an agreeable disposition. I possessed all the virtues of my sex. In the monastery she always managed better than others, she achieved unheard-of successes for her age and in a very short time surpassed her teachers.

I was the center of all conceivable virtues, being an example of integrity and nobility.

My only fault (if it can be called a fault) was my excessive sensitivity to the slightest troubles of my friends and acquaintances, and especially to my own troubles. Alas! How things have changed! Although now my own misadventures affect me no less than before, the misfortunes of others do not bother me in the least. My numerous abilities are also weakening: I am no longer able to sing as well, or dance as gracefully as I once did - I completely forgot the Minuet de la cour.

Farewell.

Laura

Letter Four

Laura - Marianne

“Laura,” she used to say to me more than once, “beware of the colorless vanity and idle extravagance of the English capital. Stay away from the fleeting pleasures of Bath and the stinking fish of Southampton.

- Alas! I exclaimed in response. - How, pray tell, to avoid those vices that will never meet on my way? How likely is it that I will be able to taste the idle life of London, the pleasures of Bath, or taste the smelly fish of Southampton?! Me, who is destined to waste the days of my youth and beauty in a modest cottage in the Aska Valley?

Oh! Then I could not even imagine that soon I would change the modest parental home for ghostly secular pleasures.

Farewell.

Laura

letter five

Laura - Marianne

One late December evening, as my father, mother, and I were sitting by the fireplace, we suddenly, to our great amazement, heard a loud knock at the door of our modest country dwelling.

My father winced.

- What's that noise? - he asked.

“It looks like someone is knocking loudly at our door,” my mother answered.

- Indeed?! I cried.

“And I am of the same opinion,” said the father, “the noise, no doubt, is caused by unheard of strong blows on our ramshackle door.

- Yes! I exclaimed. “It seems to me that someone is knocking on our door in search of shelter.

"That's another matter," he replied. - We should not pretend that we know why they are knocking on our door, although the fact that someone and indeed knocking on the door, I'm almost convinced.

Then a second deafening knock on the door interrupted my father in mid-sentence and alarmed my mother and me a lot.

"Shouldn't we go and see who's there?" mother said. - There are no servants.

“Perhaps,” I replied.

- So let's go? mother said.

“The sooner the better,” said the father.

Oh, let's not waste any time! I cried.

Meanwhile, a third blow, even more powerful than the previous two, reverberated throughout the house.

“I am convinced that someone is knocking at the door,” said my mother.

“Looks like it,” said the father.

“I think the servants have returned,” I said. I think I hear Mary walking towards the door.

- And thank God! cried the father. “I’ve been impatient to find out who brought this to us for a long time.

"Aren't you going to let them in?" I asked.

“Do you mind, dear?” the father asked.

“Of course not,” said the mother.

Without waiting for further instructions, Mary immediately left the room and soon returned with the most handsome and affable young man I have ever seen. She took the servant to her.

Farewell.

Laura

letter six

Laura - Marianne

“My father,” he continued, “is a vile and mercenary scoundrel—I speak of this only to you, my closest, most devoted friends. Your virtues, my dear Polydorus,” he continued, turning to my father, “and yours, dear Claudia, and yours, my lovely Laura, allow me to trust you completely.

We bowed.

“My father, seduced by the ghostly glare of wealth and high-profile titles, demands that I without fail marry Lady Dorothea. But this will not happen! Lady Dorothea, no words, lovely and charming, I would prefer her to any other woman, but you know, sir, I told him, I do not intend to take her as a wife, pandering to your whims! No! I will never follow my father's lead!

We all listened with admiration to these courageous speeches. Meanwhile the young man continued:

Sir Edward was surprised; perhaps he did not expect such a harsh retort.

“Tell me, Edward,” he cried, “where did you pick up this utter nonsense? I suspect from novels.

I said nothing: it was below my dignity to answer. Instead, I jumped into the saddle and, accompanied by the faithful William, went to my aunts.

After wandering along the banks of the Ask for some time, I suddenly realized that I did not know which way to go, and began to lament my bitter fate. In the meantime, it was getting dark, there was not a single star in the sky that could guide my steps, and it is hard to say what would have become of me if, after some time, I had not seen a distant light in the pitch darkness surrounding me, which, when I approached turned out to be a fire burning invitingly in your fireplace. Haunted by all sorts of misfortunes, namely fear, cold and hunger, I did not hesitate to ask for shelter, which, though not immediately, was given to me. And now, my adored Laura,” he continued, taking my hand, “tell me, can I hope that I will be rewarded for all the misfortunes that I have had to endure? Tell me, when will I be rewarded by you?

“Right away, dear and amiable Edward,” I answered.

And we were immediately betrothed to my father, who, although he was not a priest, received a theological education.

Farewell.

Laura

letter seven

Laura - Marianne

At this time, Edward's sister Augusta, a girl of very average ability, was visiting her at home. She greeted me with no less surprise, but not at all with the same cordiality as Philippa. There was an uncomfortably coldness and a repulsive reserve in the way she received me that was both sad and unexpected in equal measure. During our first meeting, she showed neither the lively interest nor the touching sympathy that is so characteristic of people meeting for the first time. She did not use warm words, there was neither liveliness nor cordiality in her signs of attention; I opened my arms to her, preparing to press her to my heart, but she did not reciprocate.

* * *

Love and friendship

This novel is dedicated to the Comtesse de Fevilide by the author, her obedient and devoted servant

Deceived in friendship

devoted in feelings.

Letter one

Isabella - Laure

How often, in response to my constant requests to tell my daughter in full detail about the hardships and vicissitudes of your life, you answered:

“No, my friend, I will not agree to your request until I am in no danger of experiencing such horrors again.”

Isabel

Letter two

Laura to Isabella

Although I cannot agree with you that there will indeed come a time when I will not be haunted by the same numerous and serious hardships that I have experienced, I am ready, in order to avoid accusations of stubbornness or bad temper, to satisfy the curiosity of your daughters. May the fortitude with which I have been able to endure the many misfortunes that have befallen me help her to cope with the misfortunes that she herself will have to endure.

Laura

letter three

Laura - Marianne

As the daughter of my closest friend, I believe you have a right to know the sad story of my life, which your mother so often begged me to tell you.

My father is from Ireland and lived in Wales; my mother was the daughter of a Scottish peer and an Italian singer; I was born in Spain and educated in a convent in France. When I was eighteen, my father encouraged me to return to my parental home in Wales. Our house was located in one of the most picturesque corners of the Aska Valley. Although now, due to the hardships I have endured, my beauty is no longer what it used to be, in my youth I was very good-looking, but I did not differ in an agreeable disposition. I possessed all the virtues of my sex. In the monastery she always managed better than others, she achieved unheard-of successes for her age and in a very short time surpassed her teachers.

I was the center of all conceivable virtues, being an example of integrity and nobility.

...

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Jane Austen

Love and friendship

(Jane Austen. Love and Freindship)

"Deceived in friendship, betrayed in feelings"

Letter one

Isabella - Laure

Isabel.

Letter two

Laura - Isabella

Laura.

letter three

Laura - Marianne

As the daughter of my closest friend, you, in my opinion, have the right to know the sad story of my life, which your mother so often begged me to tell you.

I was the center of all conceivable virtues, being an example of integrity and nobility.

My only fault (if it can be called a fault) was my excessive sensitivity to the slightest troubles of my friends and acquaintances, and especially to my own troubles. Alas! How things have changed! Although now my own misadventures affect me no less than before, the misfortunes of others no longer concern me. My numerous abilities are also weakening: I am no longer able either to sing as well or to dance as gracefully as I once did - I completely forgot the minuet de la cour.

Farewell.

Laura.

Letter Four

Laura - Marianne

Oh! Then I could not even imagine that soon, very soon I would be destined to change the modest parental home for ghostly secular pleasures.

Farewell.

Laura.

letter five

Laura - Marianne

"What's that noise?" (he asked).

“It looks like someone is knocking loudly on our door” (mother answered).

"Indeed?!" (I screamed).

“And I am of the same opinion (said the father), the noise, no doubt, is caused by unheard of strong blows on our ramshackle door.”

“Yes (I exclaimed), it seems to me that someone is knocking on our door in search of shelter.”

“That's another question,” he countered. We must not pretend that we know why they are knocking on our door, although I am almost convinced that someone is really knocking on the door.

Then a second deafening blow on the door interrupted my father in mid-sentence and slightly alarmed my mother and me.

"Why don't you go and see who's there? (said mother). There are no servants."

"Perhaps" (I replied).

"So let's go?" (said mother).

“The sooner the better” (father answered).

"Oh, let's not waste time!" (I screamed).

Meanwhile, a third blow, even more powerful than the previous two, reverberated throughout the house.

“I am convinced that someone is knocking at the door” (said mother).

"Looks like it" (said the father).

“I think the servants have returned (I said). I think I hear Mary walking towards the door."

“And thank God!” cried the father! I have long been impatient to find out who this came to us.

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