the life of charlotte bronte-1-第21章

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should　Branwell　be　brought　up？　　He　was　now　nearly　eighteen；　it　was　time　to　decide。　　He　was　very　clever；　no　doubt；　perhaps　to　begin　with；　the　greatest　genius　in　this　rare　family。　The　sisters　hardly　recognised　their　own；　or　each　others'　powers；　but　they　knew　HIS。　　The　father；　ignorant　of　many　failings　in　moral　conduct；　did　proud　homage　to　the　great　gifts　of　his　son；　for　Branwell's　talents　were　readily　and　willingly　brought　out　for　the　entertainment　of　others。　　Popular　admiration　was　sweet　to　him。　And　this　led　to　his　presence　being　sought　at　〃arvills〃　and　all　the　great　village　gatherings；　for　the　Yorkshiremen　have　a　keen　relish　for　intellect；　and　it　likewise　procured　him　the　undesirable　distinction　of　having　his　company　recommended　by　the　landlord　of　the　Black　Bull　to　any　chance　traveller　who　might　happen　to　feel　solitary　or　dull　over　his　liquor。　　〃Do　you　want　some　one　to　help　you　with　your　bottle；　sir？　　If　you　do；　I'll　send　up　for　Patrick〃　（so　the　villagers　called　him　till　the　day　of　his　death；　though　in　his　own　family　he　was　always　〃Branwell〃）。　　And　while　the　messenger　went；　the　landlord　entertained　his　guest　with　accounts　of　the　wonderful　talents　of　the　boy；　whose　precocious　cleverness；　and　great　conversational　powers；　were　the　pride　of　the　village。　　The　attacks　of　ill　health　to　which　Mr。　Bronte　had　been　subject　of　late　years；　rendered　it　not　only　necessary　that　he　should　take　his　dinner　alone　（for　the　sake　of　avoiding　temptations　to　unwholesome　diet）；　but　made　it　also　desirable　that　he　should　pass　the　time　directly　succeeding　his　meals　in　perfect　quiet。　　And　this　necessity；　combined　with　due　attention　to　his　parochial　duties；　made　him　partially　ignorant　how　his　son　employed　himself　out　of　lesson…time。　　His　own　youth　had　been　spent　among　people　of　the　same　conventional　rank　as　those　into　whose　companionship　Branwell　was　now　thrown；　but　he　had　had　a　strong　will；　and　an　earnest　and　persevering　ambition；　and　a　resoluteness　of　purpose　which　his　weaker　son　wanted。

It　is　singular　how　strong　a　yearning　the　whole　family　had　towards　the　art　of　drawing。　　Mr。　Bronte　had　been　very　solicitous　to　get　them　good　instruction；　the　girls　themselves　loved　everything　connected　with　itall　descriptions　or　engravings　of　great　pictures；　and；　in　default　of　good　ones；　they　would　take　and　analyse　any　print　or　drawing　which　came　in　their　way；　and　find　out　how　much　thought　had　gone　to　its　composition；　what　ideas　it　was　intended　to　suggest；　and　what　it　DID　suggest。　　In　the　same　spirit；　they　laboured　to　design　imaginations　of　their　own；　they　lacked　the　power　of　execution；　not　of　conception。　　At　one　time；　Charlotte　had　the　notion　of　making　her　living　as　an　artist；　and　wearied　her　eyes　in　drawing　with　pre…Raphaelite　minuteness；　but　not　with　pre…　Raphaelite　accuracy；　for　she　drew　from　fancy　rather　than　from　nature。

But　they　all　thought　there　could　be　no　doubt　about　Branwell's　talent　for　drawing。　　I　have　seen　an　oil　painting　of　his；　done　I　know　not　when；　but　probably　about　this　time。　　It　was　a　group　of　his　sisters；　life…size；　three…quarters'　length；　not　much　better　than　sign…painting；　as　to　manipulation；　but　the　likenesses　were；　I　should　think；　admirable。　　I　could　only　judge　of　the　fidelity　with　which　the　other　two　were　depicted；　from　the　striking　resemblance　which　Charlotte；　upholding　the　great　frame　of　canvas；　and　consequently　standing　right　behind　it；　bore　to　her　own　representation；　though　it　must　have　been　ten　years　and　more　since　the　portraits　were　taken。　　The　picture　was　divided；　almost　in　the　middle；　by　a　great　pillar。　　On　the　side　of　the　column　which　was　lighted　by　the　sun；　stood　Charlotte；　in　the　womanly　dress　of　that　day　of　gigot　sleeves　and　large　collars。　　On　the　deeply　shadowed　side；　was　Emily；　with　Anne's　gentle　face　resting　on　her　shoulder。　Emily's　countenance　struck　me　as　full　of　power；　Charlotte's　of　solicitude；　Anne's　of　tenderness。　　The　two　younger　seemed　hardly　to　have　attained　their　full　growth；　though　Emily　was　taller　than　Charlotte；　they　had　cropped　hair；　and　a　more　girlish　dress。　　I　remember　looking　on　those　two　sad；　earnest；　shadowed　faces；　and　wondering　whether　I　could　trace　the　mysterious　expression　which　is　said　to　foretell　an　early　death。　　I　had　some　fond　superstitious　hope　that　the　column　divided　their　fates　from　hers；　who　stood　apart　in　the　canvas；　as　in　life　she　survived。　　I　liked　to　see　that　the　bright　side　of　the　pillar　was　towards　HERthat　the　light　in　the　picture　fell　on　HER：　　I　might　more　truly　have　sought　in　her　presentmentnay；　in　her　living　facefor　the　sign　of　deathin　her　prime。　　They　were　good　likenesses；　however　badly　executed。　From　thence　I　should　guess　his　family　augured　truly　that；　if　Branwell　had　but　the　opportunity；　and；　alas！　had　but　the　moral　qualities；　he　might　turn　out　a　great　painter。

The　best　way　of　preparing　him　to　become　so　appeared　to　be　to　send　him　as　a　pupil　to　the　Royal　Academy。　　I　dare　say　he　longed　and　yearned　to　follow　this　path；　principally　because　it　would　lead　him　to　that　mysterious　Londonthat　Babylon　the　greatwhich　seems　to　have　filled　the　imaginations　and　haunted　the　minds　of　all　the　younger　members　of　this　recluse　family。　　To　Branwell　it　was　more　than　a　vivid　imagination；　it　was　an　impressed　reality。　　By　dint　of　studying　maps；　he　was　as　well　acquainted　with　it；　even　down　to　its　by…ways；　as　if　he　had　lived　there。　　Poor　misguided　fellow！　this　craving　to　see　and　know　London；　and　that　stronger　craving　after　fame；　were　never　to　be　satisfied。　　He　was　to　die　at　the　end　of　a　short　and　blighted　life。　　But　in　this　year　of　1835；　all　his　home　kindred　were　thinking　how　they　could　best　forward　his　views；　and　how　help　him　up　to　the　pinnacle　where　he　desired　to　be。　　What　their　plans　were；　let　Charlotte　explain。　　These　are　not　the　first　sisters　who　have　laid　their　lives　as　a　sacrifice　before　their　brother's　idolized　wish。　　Would　to　God　they　might　be　the　last　who　met　with　such　a　miserable　return！


〃Haworth；　July　6th；　1835。

〃I　had　hoped　to　have　had　the　extreme　pleasure　of　seeing　you　at　Haworth　this　summer；　but　human　affairs　are　mutable；　and　human　resolutions　must　bend　to　the　course　of　events。　　We　are　all　about　to　divide；　break　up；　separate。　　Emily　is　going　to　school；　Branwell　is　going　to　London；　and　I　am　going　to　be　a　governess。　　This　last　determination　I　formed　myself；　knowing　that　I　should　have　to　take　the　step　sometime；　'and　better　sune　as　syne；'　to　use　the　Scotch　proverb；　and　knowing　well　that　papa　would　have　enough　to　do　with　his　limited　income；　should　Branwell　be　placed　at　the　Royal　Academy；　and　Emily　at　Roe　Head。　　Where　am　I　going　to　reside？　you　will　ask。　　Within　four　miles　of　you；　at　a　place　neither　of　us　is　unacquainted　with；　being　no　other　than　the　identical　Roe　Head　mentioned　above。　　Yes！　　I　am　going　to　teach　in　the　very　school　where　I　was　myself　taught。　　Miss　W…　made　me　the　offer；　and　I　preferred　it　to　one　or　two　proposals　of　private　governess…ship；　which　I　had　before　received。　　I　am　sadvery　sadat　the　thoughts　of　leaving　home；　but　dutynecessitythese　are　stern　mistresses；　who　will　not　be　disobeyed。　　Did　I　not　once　say　you　ought　to　be　thankful　for　your　independence？　　I　felt　what　I　said　at　the　time；　and　I　repeat　it　now　with　double　earnestness；　if　anything　would　cheer　me；　it　is　the　idea　of　being　so　near　you。　　Surely；　you　and　Polly　will　come　and　see　me；　it　would　be　wrong　in　me　to　doubt　it；　you　were　never　unkind　yet。　　Emily　and　I　leave　home　on　the　27th　of　this　month；　the　idea　of　being　together　consoles　us　both　somewhat；　and；　truth；　since　I　must　enter　a　situation；　'My　lines　have　fallen　in　pleasant　places。'　　I　both　love　and　respect　Miss　W…。〃



CHAPTER　VIII



On　the　29th　of　July；　1835；　Charlotte；　now　a　little　more　than　nineteen　years　old；　went　as　teacher　to　Miss　W…'s。　Emily　accompanied　her　as　a　pupil；　but　she　became　literally　ill　from　home…sickness；　and　could　not　settle　to　anything；　and　after　passing　only　three　months　at　Roe　Head；　returned　to　the　parsonage　and　the　beloved　moors。

Miss　Bronte　gives　the　following　reasons　as　those　which　prevented　Emily's　remaining　at　school；　and　caused　the　substitution　of　her　younger　sister　in　her　place　at　Miss　W…'s：…

〃My　sister　Emily　loved　the　moors。　　Flowers　brighter　than　the　rose　bloomed　in　the　blackest　of　the　heath　for　her；out　of　a　sullen　hollow　in　a　livid　hill…side；　her　mind　could　make　an　Eden。　　She　found　in　the　bleak　solitude　many　and　dear　delights；　and　not　the　least　and　best…loved　wasliberty。　　Liberty　was　the　breath　of　Emily's　nostrils；　without　it　she　perished。　　The　change　from　her　own　home　to　a　school；　and　from　her　own　very　noiseless；　very　secluded；　but　unrestricted　and　unartificial　mode　of　life；　to　one　of　disciplined　routine　（though　under　the　kindest　auspices）；　was　what　she　failed　in　enduring。　　Her　nature　proved　here　too　strong　for　her　fortitude。　　Every　morning；　when　she　woke；　the　vision　of　home　and　the　moors　rushed　on　her；　and　darkened　and　saddened　the　day　that　lay　before　her。　　Nobody　knew　what　ailed　her　but　me。　　I　knew　only　too　well。　　In　this　struggle　her　health　was　quickly　broken：　　her　white　face；　attenuated　form；　and　failing　strength；　threatened　rapid　decline。　　I　felt　in　my　heart　she　would　die；　if　she　did　not　go　home；　and　with　this　conviction　obtained　her　recall。　She　had　only　been　three　months　at　school；　and　it　was　some　years　before　the　experiment　of　sending　her　from　home　was　again　ventured　on。〃

This　physical　suffering　on　Emily's　part　when　absent　from　Haworth；　after　recurring　several　times　under　similar　circumstances；　became　at　length　so　much　an　acknowledged　fact；　that　whichever　was　obliged　to　leave　home；　the　sisters　decided　that　Emily　must　remain　there；　where　alone　she　could　enjoy　anything　like　good　health。　　She　left　it　twice　again　in　her　life；　once　going　as　teacher　to　a　school　in　Halifax　for　six　months；　and　afterwards　accompanying　Charlotte　to　Brussels　for　ten。　　When　at　home；　she　took　the　principal　part　of　the　cooking　upon　herself；　and　did　all　the　household　ironing；　and　after　Tabby　grew　old　and　infirm；　it　was　Emily　who　made　all　the　bread　for　the　family；　and　any　one　passing　by　the　kitchen…door；　might　have　seen　her　studying　German　out　of　an　open　book；　propped　up　before　her；　as　she　kneaded　the　dough；　but　no　study；　however　interesting；　interfered　with　the　goodness　of　the　bread；　which　was　always　light　and　excellent。　　Books　were；　indeed；　a　very　common　sight　in　that　kitchen；　the　girls　were　taught　by　their　father　theoretically；　and　by　their　aunt；　practically；　that　to　take　an　active　part　in　all　household　work　was；　in　their　position；　woman's　simple　duty；　but　in　their　careful　employment　of　time；　they　found　many　an　odd　five　minutes　for　reading　while　watching　the　cakes；　and　managed　the　union　of　two　kinds　of　employment　better　than　King　Alfred。

Charlotte's　life　at　Miss　W…'s　was　a　very　happy　one；　until　her　health　failed。　　She　sincerely　loved　and　respected　the　former　schoolmistress；　to　whom　she　was　now　become　both　companion　and　friend。　　The　girls　were　hardly　strangers　to　her；　some　of　them　being　younger　sisters　of　those　who　had　been　her　own　playmates。　Though　the　duties　of　the　day　might　be　tedious　and　monotonous；　there　were　always　two　or　three　happy　hours　to　look　forward　to　in　the　evening；　when　she　and　Miss　W…　sat　togethersometimes　late　into　the　nightand　had　quiet　pleasant　conversations；　or　pauses　of　silence　as　agreeable；　because　each　felt　that　as　soon　as　a　thought　or　re