The Beautifull Cassandra

Jane Austen's early work, in which the impeccable standards of morality and conduct of an ideal heroine are set forth. Excerpt from Patchwork: a graphic biography of Jane Austen.
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    The Beautifull Cassandra

CHAPTER THE 1st
Cassandra was the only Daughter of a celebrated Milliner in Bond Street. Her father was of noble Birth, being the near relation of the Dutchess of ——’s Butler.

CHAPTER THE 2d
When Cassandra had attained her sixteenth year, she was lovely and amiable, and chancing to fall in love with an elegant Bonnet her Mother had just completed, she placed it on her gentle Head and walked from her Mother’s shop to make her Fortune.

CHAPTER THE 3d
The first person she met was the Viscount of ——, a young Man, no less celebrated for his Accomplishments and Virtues, than for his Elegance and Beauty. She curtseyed and walked on.

CHAPTER THE 4th
She then proceeded to a Pastry-cook’s where she devoured six ices, refused to pay for them, knocked down the Pastry Cook and walked away.

CHAPTER THE 5th
She next ascended a Hackney Coach and ordered it to Hampstead, where she was no sooner arrived than she ordered the Coachman to turn round and drive her back again.

CHAPTER THE 6th
Being returned to the same spot of the same Street she had sate out from, the Coachman demanded his Pay.

CHAPTER THE 7th
She searched her pockets over again and again; but every search was unsuccessful. No money could she find. The man grew peremptory. She placed her bonnet on his head and ran away.

CHAPTER THE 8th
Through many a street she then proceeded, till on turning a Corner of Bloomsbury Square, she met Maria.

CHAPTER THE 9th
Cassandra started and Maria seemed surprised; they trembled, blushed, turned pale and passed each other in a mutual silence. Cassandra curtseyed and went on.

CHAPTER THE 10th
Cassandra was next accosted by her friend the Widow, who squeezing out her little Head through her less window, asked her, “How d’ye do?” Cassandra curtseyed and went on.

CHAPTER THE 11th
A quarter of a mile brought her to her paternal roof in Bond Street, from which she had now been absent nearly seven hours.

CHAPTER THE 12th
She entered it and was pressed to her Mother’s bosom by that worthy Woman. Cassandra smiled and whispered to herself: “This is a day well spent.”

FINIS