Ready with Ready-Wit

[commonpeople1]

On this day, 203 years ago, Jane Austen wrote a letter to her sister, Cassandra:

Your letter yesterday was an unexpected pleasure... My morning engagement was with the Cookes, and our party consisted of George and Mary, a Mr and Miss B, who had been with us at the concert, and the youngest Miss W... I have not expressly enumerated myself among the party, but there I was, and my cousin George was very kind, and talked sense to me every now and then, in the intervals of his more animated fooleries with Miss B, who is young, and rather handsome, and whose gracious manners, ready wit, and solid remarks, put me somewhat in mind of my old acquaintance L L. There was a monstrous deal of stupid quizzing, and common-place nonsense talked, but scarcely any wit; all that bordered on it or on sense came from George, whom altogether I like very well.

From The Independent.