the life of charlotte bronte-1-第46章

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time；　for　half　a　ream　of　paper；　for　fear　of　being　without　it　when　they　came。　　I　could　not　buy　more　at　a　time　for　want　of　capital。　　I　was　always　short　of　that。　　I　did　so　like　them　to　come　when　I　had　anything　for　them；　they　were　so　much　different　to　anybody　else；　so　gentle　and　kind；　and　so　very　quiet。　　They　never　talked　much。　　Charlotte　sometimes　would　sit　and　inquire　about　our　circumstances　so　kindly　and　feelingly！　。　。　。　Though　I　am　a　poor　working　man　（which　I　have　never　felt　to　be　any　degradation）；　I　could　talk　with　her　with　the　greatest　freedom。　　I　always　felt　quite　at　home　with　her。　　Though　I　never　had　any　school　education；　I　never　felt　the　want　of　it　in　her　company。〃

The　publishers　to　whom　she　finally　made　a　successful　application　for　the　production　of　〃Currer；　Ellis；　and　Acton　Bell's　poems；〃　were　Messrs。　Aylott　and　Jones；　Paternoster　Row。　　Mr。　Aylott　has　kindly　placed　the　letters　which　she　wrote　to　them　on　the　subject　at　my　disposal。　　The　first　is　dated　January　28th；　1846；　and　in　it　she　inquires　if　they　will　publish　one　volume　octavo　of　poems；　if　not　at　their　own　risk；　on　the　author's　account。　　It　is　signed　〃C。　Bronte。〃　　They　must　have　replied　pretty　speedily；　for　on　January　31st　she　writes　again：…

〃GENTLEMEN；

〃Since　you　agree　to　undertake　the　publication　of　the　work　respecting　which　I　applied　to　you；　I　should　wish　now　to　know；　as　soon　as　possible；　the　cost　of　paper　and　printing。　　I　will　then　send　the　necessary　remittance；　together　with　the　manuscript。　　I　should　like　it　to　be　printed　in　one　octavo　volume；　of　the　same　quality　of　paper　and　size　of　type　as　Moxon's　last　edition　of　Wordsworth。　　The　poems　will　occupy；　I　should　think；　from　200　to　250　pages。　　They　are　not　the　production　of　a　clergyman；　nor　are　they　exclusively　of　a　religious　character；　but　I　presume　these　circumstances　will　be　immaterial。　　It　will；　perhaps；　be　necessary　that　you　should　see　the　manuscript；　in　order　to　calculate　accurately　the　expense　of　publication；　in　that　case　I　will　send　it　immediately。　　I　should　like；　however；　previously；　to　have　some　idea　of　the　probable　cost；　and　if；　from　what　I　have　said；　you　can　make　a　rough　calculation　on　the　subject；　I　should　be　greatly　obliged　to　you。〃

In　her　next　letter；　February　6th；　she　says：…

〃You　will　perceive　that　the　poems　are　the　work　of　three　persons；　relativestheir　separate　pieces　are　distinguished　by　their　respective　signatures。〃

She　writes　again　on　February　15th；　and　on　the　16th　she　says：…

〃The　MS。　will　certainly　form　a　thinner　volume　than　I　had　anticipated。　　I　cannot　name　another　model　which　I　should　like　it　precisely　to　resemble；　yet；　I　think；　a　duodecimo　form；　and　a　somewhat　reduced；　though　still　CLEAR　type；　would　be　preferable。　　I　only　stipulate　for　CLEAR　type；　not　too　small；　and　good　paper。〃

On　February　21st　she　selects　the　〃long　primer　type〃　for　the　poems；　and　will　remit　31L。　10S。　in　a　few　days。

Minute　as　the　details　conveyed　in　these　notes　are；　they　are　not　trivial；　because　they　afford　such　strong　indications　of　character。　If　the　volume　was　to　be　published　at　their　own　risk；　it　was　necessary　that　the　sister　conducting　the　negotiation　should　make　herself　acquainted　with　the　different　kinds　of　type；　and　the　various　sizes　of　books。　　Accordingly　she　bought　a　small　volume；　from　which　to　learn　all　she　could　on　the　subject　of　preparation　for　the　press。　　No　half…knowledgeno　trusting　to　other　people　for　decisions　which　she　could　make　for　herself；　and　yet　a　generous　and　full　confidence；　not　misplaced；　in　the　thorough　probity　of　Messrs。　Aylott　and　Jones。　　The　caution　in　ascertaining　the　risk　before　embarking　in　the　enterprise；　and　the　prompt　payment　of　the　money　required；　even　before　it　could　be　said　to　have　assumed　the　shape　of　a　debt；　were　both　parts　of　a　self…reliant　and　independent　character。　　Self…contained　also　was　she。　　During　the　whole　time　that　the　volume　of　poems　was　in　the　course　of　preparation　and　publication；　no　word　was　written　telling　anyone；　out　of　the　household　circle；　what　was　in　progress。

I　have　had　some　of　the　letters　placed　in　my　hands；　which　she　addressed　to　her　old　school…mistress；　Miss　W…。　　They　begin　a　little　before　this　time。　　Acting　on　the　conviction；　which　I　have　all　along　entertained；　that　where　Charlotte　Bronte's　own　words　could　be　used；　no　others　ought　to　take　their　place；　I　shall　make　extracts　from　this　series；　according　to　their　dates。

〃Jan。　30th；　1846。

〃MY　DEAR　MISS　W…；

〃I　have　not　yet　paid　my　visit　to　…；　it　is；　indeed；　more　than　a　year　since　I　was　there；　but　I　frequently　hear　from　E。；　and　she　did　not　fail　to　tell　me　that　you　were　gone　into　Worcestershire；　she　was　unable；　however；　to　give　me　your　exact　address。　　Had　I　known　it；　I　should　have　written　to　you　long　since。　　I　thought　you　would　wonder　how　we　were　getting　on；　when　you　heard　of　the　railway　panic；　and　you　may　be　sure　that　I　am　very　glad　to　be　able　to　answer　your　kind　inquiries　by　the　assurance　that　our　small　capital　is　as　yet　undiminished。　　The　York　and　Midland　is；　as　you　say；　a　very　good　line；　yet；　I　confess　to　you；　I　should　wish；　for　my　own　part；　to　be　wise　in　time。　　I　cannot　think　that　even　the　very　best　lines　will　continue　for　many　years　at　their　present　premiums；　and　I　have　been　most　anxious　for　us　to　sell　our　shares　ere　it　be　too　late；　and　to　secure　the　proceeds　in　some　safer；　if；　for　the　present；　less　profitable　investment。　　I　cannot；　however；　persuade　my　sisters　to　regard　the　affair　precisely　from　my　point　of　view；　and　I　feel　as　if　I　would　rather　run　the　risk　of　loss　than　hurt　Emily's　feelings　by　acting　in　direct　opposition　to　her　opinion。　She　managed　in　a　most　handsome　and　able　manner　for　me；　when　I　was　in　Brussels；　and　prevented　by　distance　from　looking　after　my　own　interests；　therefore；　I　will　let　her　manage　still；　and　take　the　consequences。　　Disinterested　and　energetic　she　certainly　is；　and　if　she　be　not　quite　so　tractable　or　open　to　conviction　as　I　could　wish；　I　must　remember　perfection　is　not　the　lot　of　humanity；　and　as　long　as　we　can　regard　those　we　love；　and　to　whom　we　are　closely　allied；　with　profound　and　never…shaken　esteem；　it　is　a　small　thing　that　they　should　vex　us　occasionally　by　what　appear　to　us　unreasonable　and　headstrong　notions。

〃You；　my　dear　Miss　W…；　know；　full　as　well　as　I　do；　the　value　of　sisters'　affection　to　each　other；　there　is　nothing　like　it　in　this　world；　I　believe；　when　they　are　nearly　equal　in　age；　and　similar　in　education；　tastes；　and　sentiments。　　You　ask　about　Branwell；　he　never　thinks　of　seeking　employment；　and　I　begin　to　fear　that　he　has　rendered　himself　incapable　of　filling　any　respectable　station　in　life；　besides；　if　money　were　at　his　disposal；　he　would　use　it　only　to　his　own　injury；　the　faculty　of　self…government　is；　I　fear；　almost　destroyed　in　him。　　You　ask　me　if　I　do　not　think　that　men　are　strange　beings？　　I　do；　indeed。　　I　have　often　thought　so；　and　I　think；　too；　that　the　mode　of　bringing　them　up　is　strange：　　they　are　not　sufficiently　guarded　from　temptation。　　Girls　are　protected　as　if　they　were　something　very　frail　or　silly　indeed；　while　boys　are　turned　loose　on　the　world；　as　if　they；　of　all　beings　in　existence；　were　the　wisest　and　least　liable　to　be　led　astray。　　I　am　glad　you　like　Broomsgrove；　though；　I　dare　say；　there　are　few　places　you　would　NOT　like；　with　Mrs。　M。　for　a　companion。　　I　always　feel　a　peculiar　satisfaction　when　I　hear　of　your　enjoying　yourself；　because　it　proves　that　there　really　is　such　a　thing　as　retributive　justice　even　in　this　world。　　You　worked　hard；　you　denied　yourself　all　pleasure；　almost　all　relaxation；　in　your　youth；　and　in　the　prime　of　life；　now　you　are　free；　and　that　while　you　have　still；　I　hope；　many　years　of　vigour　and　health　in　which　you　can　enjoy　freedom。　　Besides；　I　have　another　and　very　egotistical　motive　for　being　pleased；　it　seems　that　even　'a　lone　woman'　can　be　happy；　as　well　as　cherished　wives　and　proud　mothers。　I　am　glad　of　that。　　I　speculate　much　on　the　existence　of　unmarried　and　never…to…be…married　women　now…a…days；　and　I　have　already　got　to　the　point　of　considering　that　there　is　no　more　respectable　character　on　this　earth　than　an　unmarried　woman；　who　makes　her　own　way　through　life　quietly；　perseveringly；　without　support　of　husband　or　brother；　and　who；　having　attained　the　age　of　forty…five　or　upwards；　retains　in　her　possession　a　well…regulated　mind；　a　disposition　to　enjoy　simple　pleasures；　and　fortitude　to　support　inevitably　pains；　sympathy　with　the　sufferings　of　others；　and　willingness　to　relieve　want　as　far　as　her　means　extend。〃


During　the　time　that　the　negotiation　with　Messrs。　Aylott　and　Co。　was　going　on；　Charlotte　went　to　visit　her　old　school…friend；　with　whom　she　was　in　such　habits　of　confidential　intimacy；　but　neither　then　nor　afterwards；　did　she　ever　speak　to　her　of　the　publication　of　the　poems；　nevertheless；　this　young　lady　suspected　that　the　sisters　wrote　for　Magazines；　and　in　this　idea　she　was　confirmed　when；　on　one　of　her　visits　to　Haworth；　she　saw　Anne　with　a　number　of　〃Chambers's　Journal；〃　and　a　gentle　smile　of　pleasure　stealing　over　her　placid　face　as　she　read。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　asked　the　friend。　　〃Why　do　you　smile？〃

〃Only　because　I　see　they　have　inserted　one　of　my　poems；〃　was　the　quiet　reply；　and　not　a　word　more　was　said　on　the　subject。

To　this　friend　Charlotte　addressed　the　following　letters：…

〃March　3rd；　1846。

〃I　reached　home　a　little　after　two　o'clock；　all　safe　and　right　yesterday；　I　found　papa　very　well；　his　sight　much　the　same。　　Emily　and　Anne　were　going　to　Keighley　to　meet　me；　unfortunately；　I　had　returned　by　the　old　road；　while　they　were　gone　by　the　new；　and　we　missed　each　other。　　They　did　not　get　home　till　half…past　four；　and　were　caught　in　the　heavy　shower　of　rain　which　fell　in　the　afternoon。　　I　am　sorry　to　say　Anne　has　taken　a　little　cold　in　consequence；　but　I　hope　she　will　soon　be　well。　　Papa　was　much　cheered　by　my　report　of　Mr。　C。's　opinion；　and　of　old　Mrs。　E。's　experience；　but　I　could　perceive　he　caught　gladly　at　the　idea　of　deferring　the　operation　a　few　months　longer。　　I　went　into　the　room　where　Branwell　was；　to　speak　to　him；　about　an　hour　after　I　got　home：　　it　was　very　forced　work　to　address　him。　　I　might　have　spared　myself　the　trouble；　as　he　took　no　notice；　and　made　no　reply；　he　was　stupified。　　My　fears　were　not　in　vain。　　I　hear　that　he　got　a　sovereign　while　I　have　been　away；　under　pretence　of　paying　a　pressing　debt；　he　went　immediately　and　changed　it　at　a　public…house；　and　has　employed　it　as　was　to　be　expected。　　concluded　her　account　by　saying　he　was　a　'hopeless　being；'　it　is　too　true。　　In　his　present　state　it　is　scarcely　possible　to　stay　in　the　room　where　he　is。　　What　the　future　has　in　store　I　do　not　know。〃

〃March　31st；　1846。

〃Our　poor　old　servant　Tabby　had　a　sort　of　fit；　a　fortnight　since；　but　is　nearly　recovered　now。　　Martha〃　（the　girl　they　had　to　assist　poor　old　Tabby；　and　who　remains　still　the　faithful　servant　at　the　parsonage；）　〃is　ill　with　a　swelling　in　her　knee；　and　obliged　to　go　home。　　I　fear　it　will　be　long　before　she　is　in　working　condition　again。　　I　received　the　number　of　the　'Record'　you　sent　。　。　。　I　read　D'Aubigne's　letter。　　It　is　clever；　and　in　what　he　says　about　Catholicism　very　good。　　The　Evangelical　Alliance　part　is　not　very　practicable；　yet　certainly　it　is　more　in　accordance　with　the　spirit　of　the　Gospel　to　preach　unity　among　Christia