Miss Austen Regrets

Fanny Austen-Knight:
You like Mr. Haden!

Jane Austen:
He has very good teeth.

Mme. Bigeon:
[late at night, both in nightgowns; strong French accent] My friend in Paris has read a wonderful new book called 'Raison and Sensibilite'

Jane Austen:
Sense and Sensibility?

Mme. Bigeon:
My friend says, whoever the woman is who wrote this book, she knows more about love than anyone else in the world

Jane Austen:
Like someone who can't cook writing a recipe book

Mme. Bigeon:
Passion is for the young. It fades so quickly.

Jane Austen:
[wistfully] Not in our dreams

Mme. Bigeon:
Comfort remains, friendship remains, if you are lucky as I was.

Jane Austen:
Happiness in marriage remains a matter of chance

Mme. Bigeon:
But the fuss we make about who to choose. And love still dies and money still vanishes. And, spinster, lover, wife, every woman has regrets. So we read about your heroines and feel young again. And in love. And full of hope. As if we can make that choice again.

Jane Austen:
And do it right this time

Mme. Bigeon:
This is the gift which God has given you. [Jane Austen looks up sharply]

Mme. Bigeon:
It is enough, I think.

Jane Austen:
[reads to Cassandra from first draft of Persuasion] More than seven years were gone since this little history of sorrowful interest had reached its close;

Jane Austen:
She had been forced into prudence in her youth, she learned romance as she grew older: the natural sequel of an unnatural beginning.She had used him ill, deserted and disappointed him; and worse, she had shewn a feebleness of character in doing so, which his own decided, confident temper could not endure. She had given him up to oblige others.

Jane Austen:
She hoped to be wise and reasonable in time; but alas! alas! she must confess to herself that she was not wise yet.

Cassandra Austen:
I don't know how you have say it without tears.

Jane Austen:
I don't cry at anything that pays me money

Jane Austen:
[Reads to Cassandra from first draft of Persuasion] More than seven years were gone since this little history of sorrowful interest had reached its close;

Jane Austen:
She had been forced into prudence in her youth, she learned romance as she grew older: the natural sequel of an unnatural beginning.She had used him ill, deserted and disappointed him; and worse, she had shewn a feebleness of character in doing so, which his own decided, confident temper could not endure. She had given him up to oblige others.

Jane Austen:
She hoped to be wise and reasonable in time; but alas! alas! she must confess to herself that she was not wise yet.

Harris Bigg:
I don't know how you can say it without tears.

Jane Austen:
I don't cry at anything that pays me money

Jane Austen:
What if you do meet him [the right man] and he doesn't have any money?

Fanny Austen-Knight:
But if I love him then nothing else matters!

Jane Austen:
What in heavens name gave you that idea?

Fanny Austen-Knight:
It says so in all your books.

Edward Austen Knight:
[gravely] If that's what you think they say, my dear, perhaps, you should read them again.