the life of charlotte bronte-1-第40章
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even that which occasionally flashed up in his sisters'。 He tried various outlets for his talents。 He wrote and sent poems to Wordsworth and Coleridge； who both expressed kind and laudatory opinions； and he frequently contributed verses to the LEEDS MERCURY。 In 1840； he was living at home； employing himself in occasional composition of various kinds； and waiting till some occupation； for which he might be fitted without any expensive course of preliminary training； should turn up； waiting； not impatiently； for he saw society of one kind （probably what he called 〃life〃） at the Black Bull； and at home he was as yet the cherished favourite。
Miss Branwell was unaware of the fermentation of unoccupied talent going on around her。 She was not her nieces' confidanteperhaps no one so much older could have been； but their father； from whom they derived not a little of their adventurous spirit； was silently cognisant of much of which she took no note。 Next to her nephew； the docile； pensive Anne was her favourite。 Of her she had taken charge from her infancy； she was always patient and tractable； and would submit quietly to occasional oppression； even when she felt it keenly。 Not so her two elder sisters； they made their opinions known； when roused by any injustice。 At such times； Emily would express herself as strongly as Charlotte； although perhaps less frequently。 But； in general； notwithstanding that Miss Branwell might be occasionally unreasonable； she and her nieces went on smoothly enough； and though they might now and then be annoyed by petty tyranny； she still inspired them with sincere respect； and not a little affection。 They were； moreover； grateful to her for many habits she had enforced upon them； and which in time had become second nature： order； method； neatness in everything； a perfect knowledge of all kinds of household work； an exact punctuality； and obedience to the laws of time and place； of which no one but themselves； I have heard Charlotte say； could tell the value in after…life； with their impulsive natures； it was positive repose to have learnt implicit obedience to external laws。 People in Haworth have assured me that； according to the hour of daynay； the very minutecould they have told what the inhabitants of the parsonage were about。 At certain times the girls would be sewing in their aunt's bedroomthe chamber which； in former days； before they had outstripped her in their learning； had served them as a schoolroom； at certain （early） hours they had their meals； from six to eight； Miss Branwell read aloud to Mr。 Bronte； at punctual eight； the household assembled to evening prayers in his study； and by nine he； the aunt； and Tabby； were all in bed；the girls free to pace up and down （like restless wild animals） in the parlour； talking over plans and projects； and thoughts of what was to be their future life。
At the time of which I write； the favourite idea was that of keeping a school。 They thought that； by a little contrivance； and a very little additional building； a small number of pupils； four or six； might be accommodated in the parsonage。 As teaching seemed the only profession open to them； and as it appeared that Emily at least could not live away from home； while the others also suffered much from the same cause； this plan of school… keeping presented itself as most desirable。 But it involved some outlay； and to this their aunt was averse。 Yet there was no one to whom they could apply for a loan of the requisite means； except Miss Branwell； who had made a small store out of her savings； which she intended for her nephew and nieces eventually； but which she did not like to risk。 Still； this plan of school…keeping remained uppermost； and in the evenings of this winter of 1839…40； the alterations that would be necessary in the house； and the best way of convincing their aunt of the wisdom of their project； formed the principal subject of their conversation。
This anxiety weighed upon their minds rather heavily； during the months of dark and dreary weather。 Nor were external events； among the circle of their friends； of a cheerful character。 In January； 1840； Charlotte heard of the death of a young girl who had been a pupil of hers； and a schoolfellow of Anne's； at the time when the sisters were together at Roe Head； and had attached herself very strongly to the latter； who； in return； bestowed upon her much quiet affection。 It was a sad day when the intelligence of this young creature's death arrived。 Charlotte wrote thus on January 12th； 1840：…
〃Your letter； which I received this morning； was one of painful interest。 Anne C。； it seems； is DEAD； when I saw her last； she was a young； beautiful； and happy girl； and now 'life's fitful fever' is over with her； and she 'sleeps well。' I shall never see her again。 It is a sorrowful thought； for she was a warm…hearted； affectionate being； and I cared for her。 Wherever I seek for her now in this world； she cannot be found； no more than a flower or a leaf which withered twenty years ago。 A bereavement of this kind gives one a glimpse of the feeling those must have who have seen all drop round them； friend after friend； and are left to end their pilgrimage alone。 But tears are fruitless； and I try not to repine。〃
During this winter； Charlotte employed her leisure hours in writing a story。 Some fragments of the manuscript yet remain； but it is in too small a hand to be read without great fatigue to the eyes； and one cares the less to read it； as she herself condemned it； in the preface to the 〃Professor；〃 by saying that in this story she had got over such taste as she might once have had for the 〃ornamental and redundant in composition。〃 The beginning； too； as she acknowledges； was on a scale commensurate with one of Richardson's novels； of seven or eight volumes。 I gather some of these particulars from a copy of a letter； apparently in reply to one from Wordsworth； to whom she had sent the commencement of the story； sometime in the summer of 1840。
〃Authors are generally very tenacious of their productions； but I am not so much attached to this but that I can give it up without much distress。 No doubt； if I had gone on； I should have made quite a Richardsonian concern of it 。 。 。 I had materials in my head for half…a…dozen volumes 。 。 。 Of course； it is with considerable regret I relinquish any scheme so charming as the one I have sketched。 It is very edifying and profitable to create a world out of your own brains； and people it with inhabitants； who are so many Melchisedecs； and have no father nor mother but your own imagination 。 。 。 I am sorry I did not exist fifty or sixty years ago； when the 'Ladies' Magazine' was flourishing like a green bay…tree。 In that case； I make no doubt； my aspirations after literary fame would have met with due encouragement； and I should have had the pleasure of introducing Messrs。 Percy and West into the very best society； and recording all their sayings and doings in double…columned close…printed pages 。 。 。 I recollect； when I was a child； getting hold of some antiquated volumes； and reading them by stealth with the most exquisite pleasure。 You give a correct description of the patient Grisels of those days。 My aunt was one of them； and to this day she thinks the tales of the 'Ladies' Magazine' infinitely superior to any trash of modern literature。 So do I； for I read them in childhood； and childhood has a very strong faculty of admiration； but a very weak one of criticism 。 。 。 I am pleased that you cannot quite decide whether I am an attorney's clerk or a novel…reading dress…maker。 I will not help you at all in the discovery； and as to my handwriting； or the lady…like touches in my style and imagery； you must not draw any conclusion from thatI may employ an amanuensis。 Seriously； sir； I am very much obliged to you for your kind and candid letter。 I almost wonder you took the trouble to read and notice the novelette of an anonymous scribe； who had not even the manners to tell you whether he was a man or a woman； or whether his 'C。 T。' meant Charles Timms or Charlotte Tomkins。〃
There are two or three things noticeable in the letter from which these extracts are taken。 The f
