the life of charlotte bronte-1-第1章

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The　Life　of　Charlotte　Bronte　…　Volume　1

by　Elizabeth　Claghorn　Gaskell





CHAPTER　I



The　Leeds　and　Skipton　railway　runs　along　a　deep　valley　of　the　Aire；　a　slow　and　sluggish　stream；　compared　to　the　neighbouring　river　of　Wharfe。　　Keighley　station　is　on　this　line　of　railway；　about　a　quarter　of　a　mile　from　the　town　of　the　same　name。　　The　number　of　inhabitants　and　the　importance　of　Keighley　have　been　very　greatly　increased　during　the　last　twenty　years；　owing　to　the　rapidly　extended　market　for　worsted　manufactures；　a　branch　of　industry　that　mainly　employs　the　factory　population　of　this　part　of　Yorkshire；　which　has　Bradford　for　its　centre　and　metropolis。

Keighley　is　in　process　of　transformation　from　a　populous；　old…　fashioned　village；　into　a　still　more　populous　and　flourishing　town。　　It　is　evident　to　the　stranger；　that　as　the　gable…ended　houses；　which　obtrude　themselves　corner…wise　on　the　widening　street；　fall　vacant；　they　are　pulled　down　to　allow　of　greater　space　for　traffic；　and　a　more　modern　style　of　architecture。　　The　quaint　and　narrow　shop…windows　of　fifty　years　ago；　are　giving　way　to　large　panes　and　plate…glass。　　Nearly　every　dwelling　seems　devoted　to　some　branch　of　commerce。　　In　passing　hastily　through　the　town；　one　hardly　perceives　where　the　necessary　lawyer　and　doctor　can　live；　so　little　appearance　is　there　of　any　dwellings　of　the　professional　middle…class；　such　as　abound　in　our　old　cathedral　towns。　　In　fact；　nothing　can　be　more　opposed　than　the　state　of　society；　the　modes　of　thinking；　the　standards　of　reference　on　all　points　of　morality；　manners；　and　even　politics　and　religion；　in　such　a　new　manufacturing　place　as　Keighley　in　the　north；　and　any　stately；　sleepy；　picturesque　cathedral　town　in　the　south。　　Yet　the　aspect　of　Keighley　promises　well　for　future　stateliness；　if　not　picturesqueness。　　Grey　stone　abounds；　and　the　rows　of　houses　built　of　it　have　a　kind　of　solid　grandeur　connected　with　their　uniform　and　enduring　lines。　　The　frame…work　of　the　doors；　and　the　lintels　of　the　windows；　even　in　the　smallest　dwellings；　are　made　of　blocks　of　stone。　　There　is　no　painted　wood　to　require　continual　beautifying；　or　else　present　a　shabby　aspect；　and　the　stone　is　kept　scrupulously　clean　by　the　notable　Yorkshire　housewives。　　Such　glimpses　into　the　interior　as　a　passer…by　obtains；　reveal　a　rough　abundance　of　the　means　of　living；　and　diligent　and　active　habits　in　the　women。　　But　the　voices　of　the　people　are　hard；　and　their　tones　discordant；　promising　little　of　the　musical　taste　that　distinguishes　the　district；　and　which　has　already　furnished　a　Carrodus　to　the　musical　world。　　The　names　over　the　shops　（of　which　the　one　just　given　is　a　sample）　seem　strange　even　to　an　inhabitant　of　the　neighbouring　county；　and　have　a　peculiar　smack　and　flavour　of　the　place。

The　town　of　Keighley　never　quite　melts　into　country　on　the　road　to　Haworth；　although　the　houses　become　more　sparse　as　the　traveller　journeys　upwards　to　the　grey　round　hills　that　seem　to　bound　his　journey　in　a　westerly　direction。　　First　come　some　villas；　just　sufficiently　retired　from　the　road　to　show　that　they　can　scarcely　belong　to　any　one　liable　to　be　summoned　in　a　hurry；　at　the　call　of　suffering　or　danger；　from　his　comfortable　fire…side；　the　lawyer；　the　doctor；　and　the　clergyman；　live　at　hand；　and　hardly　in　the　suburbs；　with　a　screen　of　shrubs　for　concealment。

In　a　town　one　does　not　look　for　vivid　colouring；　what　there　may　be　of　this　is　furnished　by　the　wares　in　the　shops；　not　by　foliage　or　atmospheric　effects；　but　in　the　country　some　brilliancy　and　vividness　seems　to　be　instinctively　expected；　and　there　is　consequently　a　slight　feeling　of　disappointment　at　the　grey　neutral　tint　of　every　object；　near　or　far　off；　on　the　way　from　Keighley　to　Haworth。　　The　distance　is　about　four　miles；　and；　as　I　have　said；　what　with　villas；　great　worsted　factories；　rows　of　workmen's　houses；　with　here　and　there　an　old…fashioned　farmhouse　and　outbuildings；　it　can　hardly　be　called　〃country〃　any　part　of　the　way。　　For　two　miles　the　road　passes　over　tolerably　level　ground；　distant　hills　on　the　left；　a　〃beck〃　flowing　through　meadows　on　the　right；　and　furnishing　water　power；　at　certain　points；　to　the　factories　built　on　its　banks。　　The　air　is　dim　and　lightless　with　the　smoke　from　all　these　habitations　and　places　of　business。　　The　soil　in　the　valley　（or　〃bottom；〃　to　use　the　local　term）　is　rich；　but；　as　the　road　begins　to　ascend；　the　vegetation　becomes　poorer；　it　does　not　flourish；　it　merely　exists；　and；　instead　of　trees；　there　are　only　bushes　and　shrubs　about　the　dwellings。　　Stone　dykes　are　everywhere　used　in　place　of　hedges；　and　what　crops　there　are；　on　the　patches　of　arable　land；　consist　of　pale；　hungry…looking；　grey　green　oats。　　Right　before　the　traveller　on　this　road　rises　Haworth　village；　he　can　see　it　for　two　miles　before　he　arrives；　for　it　is　situated　on　the　side　of　a　pretty　steep　hill；　with　a　back…ground　of　dun　and　purple　moors；　rising　and　sweeping　away　yet　higher　than　the　church；　which　is　built　at　the　very　summit　of　the　long　narrow　street。　　All　round　the　horizon　there　is　this　same　line　of　sinuous　wave…like　hills；　the　scoops　into　which　they　fall　only　revealing　other　hills　beyond；　of　similar　colour　and　shape；　crowned　with　wild；　bleak　moorsgrand；　from　the　ideas　of　solitude　and　loneliness　which　they　suggest；　or　oppressive　from　the　feeling　which　they　give　of　being　pent…up　by　some　monotonous　and　illimitable　barrier；　according　to　the　mood　of　mind　in　which　the　spectator　may　be。

For　a　short　distance　the　road　appears　to　turn　away　from　Haworth；　as　it　winds　round　the　base　of　the　shoulder　of　a　hill；　but　then　it　crosses　a　bridge　over　the　〃beck；〃　and　the　ascent　through　the　village　begins。　　The　flag…stones　with　which　it　is　paved　are　placed　end…ways；　in　order　to　give　a　better　hold　to　the　horses'　feet；　and；　even　with　this　help；　they　seem　to　be　in　constant　danger　of　slipping　backwards。　　The　old　stone　houses　are　high　compared　to　the　width　of　the　street；　which　makes　an　abrupt　turn　before　reaching　the　more　level　ground　at　the　head　of　the　village；　so　that　the　steep　aspect　of　the　place；　in　one　part；　is　almost　like　that　of　a　wall。　　But　this　surmounted；　the　church　lies　a　little　off　the　main　road　on　the　left；　a　hundred　yards；　or　so；　and　the　driver　relaxes　his　care；　and　the　horse　breathes　more　easily；　as　they　pass　into　the　quite　little　by…street　that　leads　to　Haworth　Parsonage。　　The　churchyard　is　on　one　side　of　this　lane；　the　school…house　and　the　sexton's　dwelling　（where　the　curates　formerly　lodged）　on　the　other。

The　parsonage　stands　at　right　angles　to　the　road；　facing　down　upon　the　church；　so　that；　in　fact；　parsonage；　church；　and　belfried　school…house；　form　three　sides　of　an　irregular　oblong；　of　which　the　fourth　is　open　to　the　fields　and　moors　that　lie　beyond。　　The　area　of　this　oblong　is　filled　up　by　a　crowded　churchyard；　and　a　small　garden　or　court　in　front　of　the　clergyman's　house。　　As　the　entrance　to　this　from　the　road　is　at　the　side；　the　path　goes　round　the　corner　into　the　little　plot　of　ground。　　Underneath　the　windows　is　a　narrow　flower…border；　carefully　tended　in　days　of　yore；　although　only　the　most　hardy　plants　could　be　made　to　grow　there。　Within　the　stone　wall；　which　keeps　out　the　surrounding　churchyard；　are　bushes　of　elder　and　lilac；　the　rest　of　the　ground　is　occupied　by　a　square　grass…plot　and　a　gravel　walk。　　The　house　is　of　grey　stone；　two　stories　high；　heavily　roofed　with　flags；　in　order　to　resist　the　winds　that　might　strip　off　a　lighter　covering。　　It　appears　to　have　been　built　about　a　hundred　years　ago；　and　to　consist　of　four　rooms　on　each　story；　the　two　windows　on　the　right　（as　the　visitor　stands　with　his　back　to　the　church；　ready　to　enter　in　at　the　front　door）　belonging　to　Mr。　Bronte's　study；　the　two　on　the　left　to　the　family　sitting…room。　　Everything　about　the　place　tells　of　the　most　dainty　order；　the　most　exquisite　cleanliness。　The　door…steps　are　spotless；　the　small　old…fashioned　window…panes　glitter　like　looking…glass。　　Inside　and　outside　of　that　house　cleanliness　goes　up　into　its　essence；　purity。

The　little　church　lies；　as　I　mentioned；　above　most　of　the　houses　in　the　village；　and　the　graveyard　rises　above　the　church；　and　is　terribly　full　of　upright　tombstones。　　The　chapel　or　church　claims　greater　antiquity　than　any　other　in　that　part　of　the　kingdom；　but　there　is　no　appearance　of　this　in　the　external　aspect　of　the　present　edifice；　unless　it　be　in　the　two　eastern　windows；　which　remain　unmodernized；　and　in　the　lower　part　of　the　steeple。　Inside；　the　character　of　the　pillars　shows　that　they　were　constructed　before　the　reign　of　Henry　VII。　　It　is　probable　that　there　existed　on　this　ground；　a　〃field…kirk；〃　or　oratory；　in　the　earliest　times；　and；　from　the　Archbishop's　registry　at　York；　it　is　ascertained　that　there　was　a　chapel　at　Haworth　in　1317。　　The　inhabitants　refer　inquirers　concerning　the　date　to　the　following　inscription　on　a　stone　in　the　church　tower：…


〃Hic　fecit　Caenobium　Monachorum　Auteste　fundator。　　A。　D。　sexcentissimo。〃


That　is　to　say；　before　the　preaching　of　Christianity　in　Northumbria。　　Whitaker　says　that　this　mistake　originated　in　the　illiterate　copying　out；　by　some　modern　stone…cutter；　of　an　inscription　in　the　character　of　Henry　the　Eighth's　time　on　an　adjoining　stone：…


〃Orate　pro　bono　statu　Eutest　Tod。〃

〃Now　every　antiquary　knows　that　the　formula　of　prayer　'bono　statu'　always　refers　to　the　living。　　I　suspect　this　singular　Christian　name　has　been　mistaken　by　the　stone…cutter　for　Austet；　a　contraction　of　Eustatius；　but　the　word　Tod；　which　has　been　mis…　read　for　the　Arabic　figures　600；　is　perfectly　fair　and　legible。　On　the　presumption　of　this　foolish　claim　to　antiquity；　the　people　would　needs　set　up　for　independence；　and　contest　the　right　of　the　Vicar　of　Bradford　to　nominate　a　curate　at　Haworth。〃


I　have　given　this　extract；　in　order　to　explain　the　imaginary　groundwork　of　a　commotion　which　took　place　in　Haworth　about　five　and　thirty　years　ago；　to　which　I　shall　have　occasion　to　allude　again　more　particularly。

The　interior　of　the　church　is　commonplace；　it　is　neither　old　enough　nor　modern　enough　to　compel　notice。　　The　pews　are　of　black　oak；　with　high　divisions；　and　the　names　of　those　to　whom　they　belong　are　painted　in　white　letters　on　the　doors。　　There　are　neither　brasses；　nor　altar…tombs；　nor　monuments；　but　there　is　a　mural　tablet　on　the　right…hand　side　of　the　communion…table；　bearing　the　following　inscription：…


HERE　LIE　THE　REMAINS　OF　MARIA　BRONTE；　WIFE　OF　THE　REV。　P。　BRONTE；　A。B。；　MINISTER　OP　HAWORTH。　HER　SOUL　DEPARTED　TO　THE　SAVIOUR；　SEPT。　15TH；　1821；　IN　THE　39TH　YEAR　OF　HER　AGE。

〃Be　ye　also　ready：　　for　in　such　an　hour　as　ye　think　not　the　Son　of　Man　cometh。〃　　MATTHEW　xxiv。　44。

ALSO　HERE　LIE　THE　REMAINS　OF　MARIA　BRONTE；　DAUGHTER　OF　THE　AFORESAID；　SHE　DIED　ON　THE　6TH　OF　MAY；　1825；　IN　THE　12TH　YEAR　OF　HER　AGE；　AND　OF　ELIZABETH　BRONTE；　HER　SISTER；　WHO　DIED　JUNE　15TH；　1825；　IN　THE　11TH　YEAR　OF　HER　AGE。

〃Verily　I　say　unto　you；　Except　ye　be　converted；　and　become　as　little　children；　ye　shall　not　enter　into　the　kingdom　of　heaven。〃　MATTHEW　xviii。　3。

HERE　ALSO　LIE　THE　REMAINS　OF　PATRICK　BRANWELL　BRONTE；　WHO　DIED　SEPT。　24TH；　1848；　AGED　3O　YEARS；　AND　OF　EMILY　JANE　BRONTE；　WHO　DIED　DEC。　19TH；　1848；　AGED　29　YEARS；　SON　AND　DAUGHTER　OF　THE　REV。　P。　BRONTE；　INCUMBENT。