the life of charlotte bronte-1-第43章

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　the　rug　reading；　with　her　arm　round　her　rough　bull…　dog's　neck；　her　calling　to　a　strange　dog；　running　past；　with　hanging　head　and　lolling　tongue；　to　give　it　a　merciful　draught　of　water；　its　maddened　snap　at　her；　her　nobly　stern　presence　of　mind；　going　right　into　the　kitchen；　and　taking　up　one　of　Tabby's　red…hot　Italian　irons　to　sear　the　bitten　place；　and　telling　no　one；　till　the　danger　was　well…nigh　over；　for　fear　of　the　terrors　that　might　beset　their　weaker　minds。　　All　this；　looked　upon　as　a　well…　invented　fiction　in　〃Shirley；〃　was　written　down　by　Charlotte　with　streaming　eyes；　it　was　the　literal　true　account　of　what　Emily　had　done。　　The　same　tawny　bull…dog　（with　his　〃strangled　whistle〃）；　called　〃Tartar〃　in　〃Shirley；〃　was　〃Keeper〃　in　Haworth　parsonage；　a　gift　to　Emily。　　With　the　gift　came　a　warning。　　Keeper　was　faithful　to　the　depths　of　his　nature　as　long　as　he　was　with　friends；　but　he　who　struck　him　with　a　stick　or　whip；　roused　the　relentless　nature　of　the　brute；　who　flew　at　his　throat　forthwith；　and　held　him　there　till　one　or　the　other　was　at　the　point　of　death。　　Now　Keeper's　household　fault　was　this。　　He　loved　to　steal　upstairs；　and　stretch　his　square；　tawny　limbs；　on　the　comfortable　beds；　covered　over　with　delicate　white　counterpanes。　　But　the　cleanliness　of　the　parsonage　arrangements　was　perfect；　and　this　habit　of　Keeper's　was　so　objectionable；　that　Emily；　in　reply　to　Tabby's　remonstrances；　declared　that；　if　he　was　found　again　transgressing；　she　herself；　in　defiance　of　warning　and　his　well…known　ferocity　of　nature；　would　beat　him　so　severely　that　he　would　never　offend　again。　　In　the　gathering　dusk　of　an　autumn　evening；　Tabby　came；　half…　triumphantly；　half…tremblingly；　but　in　great　wrath；　to　tell　Emily　that　Keeper　was　lying　on　the　best　bed；　in　drowsy　voluptuousness。　Charlotte　saw　Emily's　whitening　face；　and　set　mouth；　but　dared　not　speak　to　interfere；　no　one　dared　when　Emily's　eyes　glowed　in　that　manner　out　of　the　paleness　of　her　face；　and　when　her　lips　were　so　compressed　into　stone。　　She　went　upstairs；　and　Tabby　and　Charlotte　stood　in　the　gloomy　passage　below；　full　of　the　dark　shadows　of　coming　night。　　Down…stairs　came　Emily；　dragging　after　her　the　unwilling　Keeper；　his　hind　legs　set　in　a　heavy　attitude　of　resistance；　held　by　the　〃scuft　of　his　neck；〃　but　growling　low　and　savagely　all　the　time。　　The　watchers　would　fain　have　spoken；　but　durst　not；　for　fear　of　taking　off　Emily's　attention；　and　causing　her　to　avert　her　head　for　a　moment　from　the　enraged　brute。　　She　let　him　go；　planted　in　a　dark　corner　at　the　bottom　of　the　stairs；　no　time　was　there　to　fetch　stick　or　rod；　for　fear　of　the　strangling　clutch　at　her　throather　bare　clenched　fist　struck　against　his　red　fierce　eyes；　before　he　had　time　to　make　his　spring；　and；　in　the　language　of　the　turf；　she　〃punished　him〃　till　his　eyes　were　swelled　up；　and　the　half…blind；　stupified　beast　was　led　to　his　accustomed　lair；　to　have　his　swollen　head　fomented　and　cared　for　by　the　very　Emily　herself。　　The　generous　dog　owed　her　no　grudge；　he　loved　her　dearly　ever　after；　he　walked　first　among　the　mourners　to　her　funeral；　he　slept　moaning　for　nights　at　the　door　of　her　empty　room；　and　never；　so　to　speak；　rejoiced；　dog　fashion；　after　her　death。　　He；　in　his　turn；　was　mourned　over　by　the　surviving　sister。　　Let　us　somehow　hope；　in　half　Red　Indian　creed；　that　he　follows　Emily　now；　and；　when　he　rests；　sleeps　on　some　soft　white　bed　of　dreams；　unpunished　when　he　awakens　to　the　life　of　the　land　of　shadows。

Now　we　can　understand　the　force　of　the　words；　〃Our　poor　little　cat　is　dead。　　Emily　is　sorry。〃



CHAPTER　XIII



The　moors　were　a　great　resource　this　spring；　Emily　and　Charlotte　walked　out　on　them　perpetually；　〃to　the　great　damage　of　our　shoes；　but　I　hope；　to　the　benefit　of　our　health。〃　　The　old　plan　of　school…keeping　was　often　discussed　in　these　rambles；　but　in…doors　they　set　with　vigour　to　shirt…making　for　the　absent　Branwell；　and　pondered　in　silence　over　their　past　and　future　life。　　At　last　they　came　to　a　determination。

〃I　have　seriously　entered　into　the　enterprise　of　keeping　a　school…　…or　rather；　taking　a　limited　number　of　pupils　at　home。　　That　is；　I　have　begun　in　good　earnest　to　seek　for　pupils。　　I　wrote　to　Mrs。〃　（the　lady　with　whom　she　had　lived　as　governess；　just　before　going　to　Brussels）；　〃not　asking　her　for　her　daughterI　cannot　do　that　but　informing　her　of　my　intention。　　I　received　an　answer　from　Mr。…　…expressive　of；　I　believe；　sincere　regret　that　I　had　not　informed　them　a　month　sooner；　in　which　case；　he　said；　they　would　gladly　have　sent　me　their　own　daughter；　and　also　Colonel　S。's；　but　that　now　both　were　promised　to　Miss　C。　　I　was　partly　disappointed　by　this　answer；　and　partly　gratified；　indeed；　I　derived　quite　an　impulse　of　encouragement　from　the　warm　assurance　that　if　I　had　but　applied　a　little　sooner　they　would　certainly　have　sent　me　their　daughter。　　I　own　I　had　misgivings　that　nobody　would　be　willing　to　send　a　child　for　education　to　Haworth。　　These　misgivings　are　partly　done　away　with。　　I　have　written　also　to　Mrs。　B。；　and　have　enclosed　the　diploma　which　M。　Heger　gave　me　before　I　left　Brussels。　　I　have　not　yet　received　her　answer；　but　I　wait　for　it　with　some　anxiety。　　I　do　not　expect　that　she　will　send　me　any　of　her　children；　but　if　she　would；　I　dare　say　she　could　recommend　me　other　pupils。　　Unfortunately；　she　knows　us　only　very　slightly。　　As　soon　as　I　can　get　an　assurance　of　only　ONE　pupil；　I　will　have　cards　of　terms　printed；　and　will　commence　the　repairs　necessary　in　the　house。　　I　wish　all　that　to　be　done　before　winter。　　I　think　of　fixing　the　board　and　English　education　at　25L。　per　annum。〃

Again；　at　a　later　date；　July　24th；　in　the　same　year；　she　writes：…

〃I　am　driving　on　with　my　small　matter　as　well　as　I　can。　　I　have　written　to　all　the　friends　on　whom　I　have　the　slightest　claim；　and　to　some　on　whom　I　have　no　claim；　Mrs。　B。；　for　example。　　On　her；　also；　I　have　actually　made　bold　to　call。　　She　was　exceedingly　polite；　regretted　that　her　children　were　already　at　school　at　Liverpool；　thought　the　undertaking　a　most　praiseworthy　one；　but　feared　I　should　have　some　difficulty　in　making　it　succeed　on　account　of　the　SITUATION。　　Such　is　the　answer　I　receive　from　almost　every　one。　　I　tell　them　the　RETIRED　SITUATION　is；　in　some　points　of　view；　an　advantage；　that　were　it　in　the　midst　of　a　large　town　I　could　not　pretend　to　take　pupils　on　terms　so　moderate　（Mrs。　B。　remarked　that　she　thought　the　terms　very　moderate）；　but　that；　as　it　is；　not　having　house…rent　to　pay；　we　can　offer　the　same　privileges　of　education　that　are　to　be　had　in　expensive　seminaries；　at　little　more　than　half　their　price；　and　as　our　number　must　be　limited；　we　can　devote　a　large　share　of　time　and　pains　to　each　pupil。　　Thank　you　for　the　very　pretty　little　purse　you　have　sent　me。　　I　make　to　you　a　curious　return　in　the　shape　of　half　a　dozen　cards　of　terms。　　Make　such　use　of　them　as　your　judgment　shall　dictate。　　You　will　see　that　I　have　fixed　the　sum　at　35L。；　which　I　think　is　the　just　medium；　considering　advantages　and　disadvantages。〃

This　was　written　in　July；　August；　September；　and　October　passed　away；　and　no　pupils　were　to　be　heard　of。　　Day　after　day；　there　was　a　little　hope　felt　by　the　sisters　until　the　post　came　in。　　But　Haworth　village　was　wild　and　lonely；　and　the　Brontes　but　little　known；　owing　to　their　want　of　connections。　　Charlotte　writes　on　the　subject；　in　the　early　winter　months；　to　this　effect　…

〃I；　Emily；　and　Anne；　are　truly　obliged　to　you　for　the　efforts　you　have　made　in　our　behalf；　and　if　you　have　not　been　successful；　you　are　only　like　ourselves。　　Every　one　wishes　us　well；　but　there　are　no　pupils　to　be　had。　　We　have　no　present　intention；　however；　of　breaking　our　hearts　on　the　subject；　still　less　of　feeling　mortified　at　defeat。　　The　effort　must　be　beneficial；　whatever　the　result　may　be；　because　it　teaches　us　experience；　and　an　additional　knowledge　of　this　world。　　I　send　you　two　more　circulars。〃

A　month　later；　she　says：…

〃We　have　made　no　alterations　yet　in　our　house。　　It　would　be　folly　to　do　so；　while　there　is　so　little　likelihood　of　our　ever　getting　pupils。　　I　fear　you　are　giving　yourself　too　much　trouble　on　our　account。　　Depend　upon　it；　if　you　were　to　persuade　a　mamma　to　bring　her　child　to　Haworth；　the　aspect　of　the　place　would　frighten　her；　and　she　would　probably　take　the　dear　girl　back　with　her；　instanter。　　We　are　glad　that　we　have　made　the　attempt；　and　we　will　not　be　cast　down　because　it　has　not　succeeded。〃


There　were；　probably；　growing　up　in　each　sister's　heart；　secret　unacknowledged　feelings　of　relief；　that　their　plan　had　not　succeeded。　　Yes！　a　dull　sense　of　relief　that　their　cherished　project　had　been　tried　and　had　failed。　　For　that　house；　which　was　to　be　regarded　as　an　occasional　home　for　their　brother；　could　hardly　be　a　fitting　residence　for　the　children　of　strangers。　　They　had；　in　all　likelihood；　become　silently　aware　that　his　habits　were　such　as　to　render　his　society　at　times　most　undesirable。　Possibly；　too；　they　had；　by　this　time；　heard　distressing　rumours　concerning　the　cause　of　that　remorse　and　agony　of　mind；　which　at　times　made　him　restless　and　unnaturally　merry；　at　times　rendered　him　moody　and　irritable。

In　January；　1845；　Charlotte　says：…　〃Branwell　has　been　quieter　and　less　irritable；　on　the　whole；　this　time　than　he　was　in　summer。　Anne　is；　as　usual；　always　good；　mild；　and　patient。〃　　The　deep…　seated　pain　which　he　was　to　occasion　to　his　relations　had　now　taken　a　decided　form；　and　pressed　heavily　on　Charlotte's　health　and　spirits。　　Early　in　this　year；　she　went　to　H。　to　bid　good…bye　to　her　dear　friend　〃Mary；〃　who　was　leaving　England　for　Australia。

Branwell；　I　have　mentioned；　had　obtained　the　situation　of　a　private　tutor。　　Anne　was　also　engaged　as　governess　in　the　same　family；　and　was　thus　a　miserable　witness　to　her　brother's　deterioration　of　character　at　this　period。　　Of　the　causes　of　this　deterioration　I　cannot　speak；　but　the　consequences　were　these。　　He　went　home　for　his　holidays　reluctantly；　stayed　there　as　short　a　time　as　possible；　perplexing　and　distressing　them　all　by　his　extraordinary　conductat　one　time　in　the　highest　spirits；　at　another；　in　the　deepest　depressionaccusing　himself　of　blackest　guilt　and　treachery；　without　specifying　what　they　were；　and　altogether　evincing　an　irritability　of　disposition　bordering　on　insanity。

Charlotte　and　Emily　suffered　acutely　from　his　mysterious　behaviour。　　He　expressed　himself　more　than　satisfied　with　his　situation；　he　was　remaining　in　it　for　a　longer　time　than　he　had　ever　done　in　any　kind　of　employment　before；　so　that　for　some　time　they　could　not　conjecture　that　anything　there　made　him　so　wilful；　and　restless；　and　full　of　both　levity　and　misery。　　But　a　sense　of　something　wrong　connected　with　him；　sickened　and　oppressed　them。　They　began　to　lose　all　hope　in　his　future　career。　　He　was　no　longer　the　family　pride；　an　indistinct　dread；　caused　partly　by　his　own　conduct；　partly　by　expressions　of　agonising　suspicion　in　Anne's　letters　home；　was　creeping　over　their　minds　that　he　might　turn　out　their　deep　disgrace。　　But；　I　believe；　they　shrank　from　any　attempt　to　define　their　fears；　and　spoke　of　him　to　each　other　as　little　as　possible。　　They　could　not　help　but　think；　and　mourn；　and　wonder。

〃Feb。　20th；　1845。

〃I　spent　a　week　at　H。；　not　very　pleasantly；