The aunt never
writes, but always gets one of the servants to do so for her. She
appears either as "your aunt" or as "She"; her name is not given,
but she is evidently looked upon with a good deal of awe by all who
had to do with her.
The letters almost all of them relate to visits either of the aunt
to London, or of the nieces to the aunt's home, which, from
occasional allusions to hopping, I gather to have been in Kent,
Sussex, or Surrey. I have arranged them to the best of my power,
and take the following to be the earliest. It has no signature, but
is not in the handwriting of the servant who styles herself
Elizabeth, or Mrs. Newton. It runs:--
"MADAM,--Your Aunt Wishes me to inform you she will be glad if
you will let hir know if you think of coming To hir House thiss
month or Next as she cannot have you in September on a kount of
the Hoping If you ar coming she thinkes she had batter Go to
London on the Day you com to hir House she says you shall have
everry Thing raddy for you at hir House and Mrs.
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