“Good morning,” said a voice behind her, tearing her from her musings.
“Good morning, Cass,” Jane said with a warm smile. ¨I was thinking of you.”
“Of me? I hope you are not thinking about including me in your new book,” she commented with a meaningful look. “In the end you did not show Cousin Eliza your story about Lady Susan Vernon,” she reminded her mischievously. I wonder what her opinion would have been.”
Jane laughed, amused, as a blush tinged her face.
“I wanted to do it, but I did not dare.” She confessed. “Maybe on her next visit.”
“I think she would have had a laugh and liked it.”
“Probably. Nevertheless, I preferred not to take the risk. It is one thing to talk and behave in a certain way and something very different to see yourself reflected in a character, however charming I find her.”
“I guess you are right. But you said you were thinking of me.”
“Actually I was thinking how much I am going to miss you when you get married,” Jane confessed, looking dolefully at Cass.
Cass received the answer with the force of an unexpected blow. Unable to avoid it, the doting sister felt her eyes filling with tears, her chest heavy with grief. Realising the effect of her words, Jane approached Cassandra quickly and hugged her tightly.
“Forgive me; I did not want to make you sad.”
Her sister’s tears moistened Jane’s dark curls and Jane dried her with kisses.
“No, it is you who has to forgive me. I do not know what happened to me. Although the truth is I have also thought much about it,” said Cassandra finally, a little more recovered. “I love Tom very much and I long for his return. But at the same time…”
Jane nodded sympathetically and struggled to give the conversation a more cheerful tone.
“Anyway, let’s not exaggerate!” She commented with a funny pout. “We have been apart many times and it has not been that terrible. Actually, if it were not for that, I would not receive those amusing letters you send me.”
“That’s true.” Her sister agreed in the same tone. “Besides, when Tom and I get married, we will invite you frequently to spend long sojourns at our home.”
“That will be delightful. And I will be your children’s favourite aunt.”
“No doubt, indeed,” Cass said, laughing. “Although by then, you may have other plans.”
Jane replied with an evasive gesture.
“I am sure you will meet a gentleman who will change your mind,” insisted her sister.
“I do not have a high opinion of the gentlemen I know here.”
“Maybe on a trip…”
“When I travel, I prefer to look at the mountains.”
Cass smiled resignedly.
“All right,” she said. “I will not insist more, time will tell. You know I just want you to be happy,” she added, smoothing a rebellious lock of Jane’s hair.
“I know,” said Jane, taking her sister’s hand. “And I wish, as well as everybody else, to be perfectly happy. But like everybody else it must be in my own way.”
Cassandra smiled once more. “What is to be done with you?” she concluded with a kiss (Jane. Chapter 8)
Many things have been said about Cassandra -Jane Austen’s sister-, and not all of them with good intention. This is due, at least in part, to the fact that she cut pieces or burnt entirely some of Jane’s letters after her death. Some people think this implies censuring or distorting history as a consequence of a manipulative and puritan tendence on Cassandra’s side. What did those letters hide so that she decided to burn them? Some people wonder. Was Jane blaming Cassandra for something that had happened between them? Shameful secrets of Jane or of her family? Obscene words or thoughts? Noone knows, but some people will always suspect the worst.
Let’s imagine! Imagine you lose a dear one and you have access to all his or her personal messages (e-mails, social media, texts, etc.). Imagine that, due to that dear one’s fame you expect that all those private messages will be on show for the public. Imagine that through reading those messages you find a few that, because they were private, could be misunderstood, or cause mockery, or mistreatment or misjudgement on that beloved person.
Because, just between you and me, would you let everyone check your messages? All of them? Don’t you think you would have a hard time if all those texts were published on social media? Even if there is nothing really wrong in them? Ok, then, just imagine all this and tell me if you wouldn’t choose to select what is meant for the public and what is not. We are free to choose, and that’s what Cassandra did.
Putting that aside, there is no doubt that Jane’s letters to Cassandra are full of affection, trust and admiration. They were two sisters in a family full of boys. Two sisters who shared joy and pain. Two sisters who stayed together until death separated them.
How was Cassandra? Intelligent, responsible, amusing… At least, that’s what Jane thought. That’s what we find in her letters. Jane grew up in Cassandra’s shadow, but this shadow did not prevent her growth. Facts prove so. Jane needed Cassandra’s support and looked up to her. And for this reason, despite being a genius, she considers herself inferior to her dear sister.
Jane’s relationship with Cassandra tightened with the passage of time, and especially during Jane’s illness. Cass was her faithful companion, her nurse, her confident. She staid with her every moment, she held Jane’s head during her agony. Thanks to Cassandra, we know the last hours of an immortal writer, whose creations challenge centuries.
No doubt Cassandra had imperfections; who doesn’t! But if Jane loved her so much, I don’t know why should any of us who love Jane feel differentely.
Godmersham, Wednesday, June 15th, 1808
My dear Cassandra,
Where shall I begin? Which of all my important nothings shall I tell you first?
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JANE 