the life of charlotte bronte-1-第16章
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d stand under the trees in the play…ground； and say it was pleasanter。 She endeavoured to explain this； pointing out the shadows； the peeps of sky； &c。 We understood but little of it。 She said that at Cowan Bridge she used to stand in the burn； on a stone； to watch the water flow by。 I told her she should have gone fishing； she said she never wanted。 She always showed physical feebleness in everything。 She ate no animal food at school。 It was about this time I told her she was very ugly。 Some years afterwards； I told her I thought I had been very impertinent。 She replied； 'You did me a great deal of good； Polly； so don't repent of it。' She used to draw much better； and more quickly； than anything we had seen before； and knew much about celebrated pictures and painters。 Whenever an opportunity offered of examining a picture or cut of any kind； she went over it piecemeal； with her eyes close to the paper； looking so long that we used to ask her 'what she saw in it。' She could always see plenty； and explained it very well。 She made poetry and drawing at least exceedingly interesting to me； and then I got the habit； which I have yet； of referring mentally to her opinion on all matters of that kind； along with many more； resolving to describe such and such things to her； until I start at the recollection that I never shall。〃
To feel the full force of this last sentenceto show how steady and vivid was the impression which Miss Bronte made on those fitted to appreciate herI must mention that the writer of this letter； dated January 18th； 1856； in which she thus speaks of constantly referring to Charlotte's opinion has never seen her for eleven years； nearly all of which have been passed among strange scenes； in a new continent； at the antipodes。
〃We used to be furious politicians； as one could hardly help being in 1832。 She knew the names of the two ministries； the one that resigned； and the one that succeeded and passed the Reform Bill。 She worshipped the Duke of Wellington； but said that Sir Robert Peel was not to be trusted； he did not act from principle like the rest； but from expediency。 I； being of the furious radical party； told her 'how could any of them trust one another； they were all of them rascals！' Then she would launch out into praises of the Duke of Wellington； referring to his actions； which I could not contradict； as I knew nothing about him。 She said she had taken interest in politics ever since she was five years old。 She did not get her opinions from her fatherthat is； not directlybut from the papers； &c。； he preferred。〃
In illustration of the truth of this； I may give an extract from a letter to her brother； written from Roe Head； May 17th； 1832：… 〃Lately I had begun to think that I had lost all the interest which I used formerly to take in politics； but the extreme pleasure I felt at the news of the Reform Bill's being thrown out by the House of Lords； and of the expulsion； or resignation of Earl Grey； &c。； convinced me that I have not as yet lost all my penchant for politics。 I am extremely glad that aunt has consented to take in 'Fraser's Magazine；' for； though I know from your description of its general contents it will be rather uninteresting when compared with 'Blackwood；' still it will be better than remaining the whole year without being able to obtain a sight of any periodical whatever； and such would assuredly be our case； as； in the little wild moorland village where we reside； there would be no possibility of borrowing a work of that description from a circulating library。 I hope with you that the present delightful weather may contribute to the perfect restoration of our dear papa's health； and that it may give aunt pleasant reminiscences of the salubrious climate of her native place；〃 &c。
To return to 〃Mary's〃 letter。
〃She used to speak of her two elder sisters； Maria and Elizabeth； who died at Cowan Bridge。 I used to believe them to have been wonders of talent and kindness。 She told me； early one morning； that she had just been dreaming； she had been told that she was wanted in the drawing…room； and it was Maria and Elizabeth。 I was eager for her to go on； and when she said there was no more； I said； 'but go on！ MAKE IT OUT！ I know you can。' She said she would not； she wished she had not dreamed； for it did not go on nicely； they were changed； they had forgotten what they used to care for。 They were very fashionably dressed； and began criticising the room； &c。
〃This habit of 'making out' interests for themselves that most children get who have none in actual life； was very strong in her。 The whole family used to 'make out' histories； and invent characters and events。 I told her sometimes they were like growing potatoes in a cellar。 She said； sadly； 'Yes！ I know we are！'
〃Some one at school said she 'was always talking about clever people； Johnson； Sheridan； &c。' She said； 'Now you don't know the meaning of CLEVER； Sheridan might be clever； yes； Sheridan was clever；scamps often are； but Johnson hadn't a spark of cleverality in him。' No one appreciated the opinion； they made some trivial remark about 'CLEVERALITY；' and she said no more。
〃This is the epitome of her life。 At our house she had just as little chance of a patient hearing； for though not school…girlish； we were more intolerant。 We had a rage for practicality； and laughed all poetry to scorn。 Neither she nor we had any idea but that our opinions were the opinions of all the SENSIBLE people in the world； and we used to astonish each other at every sentence 。 。 。 Charlotte； at school； had no plan of life beyond what circumstances made for her。 She knew that she must provide for herself； and chose her trade； at least chose to begin it once。 Her idea of self…improvement ruled her even at school。 It was to cultivate her tastes。 She always said there was enough of hard practicality and USEFUL knowledge forced on us by necessity； and that the thing most needed was to soften and refine our minds。 She picked up every scrap of information concerning painting； sculpture； poetry； music； &c。； as if it were gold。〃
What I have heard of her school days from other sources； confirms the accuracy of the details in this remarkable letter。 She was an indefatigable student： constantly reading and learning； with a strong conviction of the necessity and value of education； very unusual in a girl of fifteen。 She never lost a moment of time； and seemed almost to grudge the necessary leisure for relaxation and play…hours； which might be partly accounted for by the awkwardness in all games occasioned by her shortness of sight。 Yet； in spite of these unsociable habits； she was a great favourite with her schoolfellows。 She was always ready to try and do what they wished； though not sorry when they called her awkward； and left her out of their sports。 Then； at night； she was an invaluable story…teller； frightening them almost out of their wits as they lay in bed。 On one occasion the effect was such that she was led to scream out aloud； and Miss W…； coming up stairs； found that one of the listeners had been seized with violent palpitations； in consequence of the excitement produced by Charlotte's story。
Her indefatigable craving for knowledge tempted Miss W… on into setting her longer and longer tasks of reading for examination； and towards the end of the year and a half that she remained as a pupil at Roe Head； she received her first bad mark for an imperfect lesson。 She had had a great quantity of Blair's 〃Lectures on Belles Lettres〃 to read； and she could not answer some of the questions upon it； Charlotte Bronte had a bad mark。 Miss W… was sorry； and regretted that she had set Charlotte so long a task。 Charlotte cried bitterly。 But her school…fellows were more than sorrythey were indignant。 They declared that the infliction of ever so slight a punishment on Charlotte Bronte was unjustfor who had tried to do her duty like her？and testified their feeling in a variety of ways； until Miss W…； who was in reality only too willing to pass over her good pupil's first fault； withdrew the bad mark； and the girls all returned to their allegiance except 〃Mary；〃 who took her own way during the week or two that remained of the half…year； choosing to consider that Miss W…； in giving Charlotte Bronte so long a task； had forfeited her claim to obedience of the school regulations。
The number of pupils was so small that the attendance to certain subjects at particular hours； common in larger schools； was not rigidly enforced。 When the girls were ready with their lessons； they came to Miss W… to say them。 She had a remarkable knack of making them feel interested in whatever they had to learn。 They set to their studies； not as to tasks or duties to be got through； but with a healthy desire and thirst for knowledge； of which she had managed to make them perceive the relishing savour。 They did not leave off reading and learning as soon as the compulsory pressure of school was taken away。 They had been taught to think； to analyse； to reject； to appreciate。 Charlotte Bronte was happy in the choice made for her of the second school to which she was sent。 There was a robust freedom in the out…of…doors life of her companions。 They played at merry games in the fields round the house： on Saturday half…holidays they went long scrambling walks down mysterious shady lanes； then climbing the uplands； and thus gaining extensive views over the country； about which so much had to be told； both of its past and present history。
Miss W… must have had in great perfection the French art； 〃conter；〃 to judge from her pupil's recollections of the tales she related during these long walks； of this old house； or that new mill； and of the states of society consequent on the changes involved by the suggestive dates of either building。 She remembered the times when watchers or wakeners in the night heard the distant word of command； and the measured tramp of thousands of sad desperate men receiving a surreptitious military training； in preparation for some great day which they saw in their visions； when right should struggle with might and come off victorious： when the people of England； represented by the workers of Yorkshire； Lancashire； and Nottinghamshire； should make their voice heard in a terrible slogan； since their true and pitiful complaints could find no hearing in parliament。 We forget； now…a… days； so rapid have been the changes for the better； how cruel was the condition of numbers of labourers at the close of the great Peninsular war。 The half…ludicrous nature of some of their grievances has lingered on in tradition； the real intensity of their sufferings has become forgotten。 They were maddened and desperate； and the country； in the opinion of many； seemed to be on the verge of a precipice； from which it was only saved by the prompt and resolute decision of a few in authority。 Miss W… spoke of those times； of the mysterious nightly drillings； of thousands on lonely moors； of the muttered threats of individuals too closely pressed upon by necessity to be prudent； of the overt acts； in which the burning of Cartwright's mill took a prominent place； and these things sank deep into the mind of one； at least； among her hearers。
Mr
