Lady Harriet Cavendish to her former governess, Selina Trimmer, 24 November 1803: 'I lament the reason I am going to give you for keeping to one book at a time. I find from the long habits of inattention and unsteadiness of reading to which I have accustomed myself that I cannot remember or connect what I am about as well if I vary the subject, as when I keep steadily to one, and in fact, I gain as much information from constantly having my book [italics]near[end italics] or [italics]about[end italics] me, I get on very fast [sic]. I am now in the 5th volume of Madame de Sevigne's letters, and I own myself to be quite captivated by her style, wit and variety of sentiment. I think people are much mistaken who only dip into this book, as it is impossible to do her, or one's own judgement of her, justice without reading it through with attention and I am sure then with delight.'