JANE AUSTEN n 



by what happened to myself, when I went to view 

 the classic spot. I quite suddenly and inexplicably 

 fell down. The same thing happened to a friend on 

 the same spot, and we concluded that in the 

 surprisingly slipperj' character of the surface lies 

 the explanation of the accident. It had never 

 seemed comprehensible that an active and capable 

 man should miss so easy a catch as that provided 

 by Louisa. But if Captain Wentworth slipped and 

 fell as she jumped, she would come down with him. 

 I am told that when Tennyson visited Lyme he 

 repelled the proposals of his friends, who wished 

 him to see something of the beauties of the place, 

 and insisted on going straight to the flight of 

 steps. This is an attractive trait in Tennyson's 

 character, but it may not have been pleasing to 

 his hosts. 



