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Thank you. It's fall 1802 at many down park, a manor house in Hampshire, England.

27-year-old Jane Austen creeps down the stairs.

She's walking quietly, trying not to make too much noise,

because right now she can't bear to face the other inhabitants of the house. A few days ago,

Jane arrived at Manydowne Park to visit with her friends, Catherine, and Alethea Big. But the Big sisters weren't the only members of the family at home during Jane's stay. Their 21-year-old brother, Harris Big Wither, was there too,

and he became infatuated with Jane's quick wit and inquiring mind.

Last night, Harris surprised Jane by proposing marriage, and she accepted.

But after lying awake all night with worry, Jane came to regret her decision, and at breakfast this morning, she went back on her promise.

Now she's desperate to escape many down park and the awkward atmosphere she's created.

When she reaches the bottom of the stairs, Jane opens the front door and peeks outside.

The carriage is waiting for her on the wide path,

and Jane wraps her coat tight around her and rushes from the house.

She steps up and takes a seat on the carriage, nodding her thanks to the driver.

And with a gentle lurch, the carriage moves off.

Jane takes one last look back at Manydown Park as it recedes from view,

knowing that her last prospect of marriage is disappearing with it. Word will soon get around that she's turned down

an eligible suitor, and that will leave Jane unmarried in a society when the expectation is that

all women become wives and mothers. Now she'll just have to find something else to do with her life.

...