'
These two brothers have been dwelt on longer than the others because
their honourable career accounts for Jane Austen's partiality for the
Navy, as well as for the readiness and accuracy with which she wrote
about it. She was always very careful not to meddle with matters which
she did not thoroughly understand. She never touched upon politics, law,
or medicine, subjects which some novel writers have ventured on rather
too boldly, and have treated, perhaps, with more brilliancy than
accuracy. But with ships and sailors she felt herself at home, or at
least could always trust to a brotherly critic to keep her right. I
believe that no flaw has ever been found in her seamanship either in
'Mansfield Park' or in 'Persuasion.'
But dearest of all to the heart of Jane was her sister Cassandra, about
three years her senior. Their sisterly affection for each other could
scarcely be exceeded. Perhaps it began on Jane's side with the feeling
of deference natural to a loving child towards a kind elder sister.
Something of this feeling always remained; and even in the maturity of
her powers, and in the enjoyment of increasing success, she would still
speak of Cassandra as of one wiser and better than herself.
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