the life of charlotte bronte-1-第9章
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usbands； and the daughters grew up out of childhood into girlhood bereft； in a singular manner； of all such society as would have been natural to their age； sex； and station。
But the children did not want society。 To small infantine gaieties they were unaccustomed。 They were all in all to each other。 I do not suppose that there ever was a family more tenderly bound to each other。 Maria read the newspapers； and reported intelligence to her younger sisters which it is wonderful they could take an interest in。 But I suspect that they had no 〃children's books；〃 and that their eager minds 〃browzed undisturbed among the wholesome pasturage of English literature；〃 as Charles Lamb expresses it。 The servants of the household appear to have been much impressed with the little Brontes' extraordinary cleverness。 In a letter which I had from him on this subject； their father writes：… 〃The servants often said that they had never seen such a clever little child〃 （as Charlotte）； 〃and that they were obliged to be on their guard as to what they said and did before her。 Yet she and the servants always lived on good terms with each other。〃
These servants are yet alive； elderly women residing in Bradford。 They retain a faithful and fond recollection of Charlotte； and speak of her unvarying kindness from the 〃time when she was ever such a little child！〃 when she would not rest till she had got the old disused cradle sent from the parsonage to the house where the parents of one of them lived； to serve for a little infant sister。 They tell of one long series of kind and thoughtful actions from this early period to the last weeks of Charlotte Bronte's life； and； though she had left her place many years ago； one of these former servants went over from Bradford to Haworth on purpose to see Mr。 Bronte； and offer him her true sympathy； when his last child died。 I may add a little anecdote as a testimony to the admirable character of the likeness of Miss Bronte prefixed to this volume。 A gentleman who had kindly interested himself in the preparation of this memoir took the first volume； shortly after the publication； to the house of this old servant； in order to show her the portrait。 The moment she caught a glimpse of the frontispiece； 〃There she is；〃 in a minute she exclaimed。 〃Come； John； look！〃 （to her husband）； and her daughter was equally struck by the resemblance。 There might not be many to regard the Brontes with affection； but those who once loved them； loved them long and well。
I return to the father's letter。 He says：…
〃When mere children； as soon as they could read and write； Charlotte and her brothers and sisters used to invent and act little plays of their own； in which the Duke of Wellington； my daughter Charlotte's hero； was sure to come off conqueror； when a dispute would not unfrequently arise amongst them regarding the comparative merits of him； Buonaparte； Hannibal； and Caesar。 When the argument got warm； and rose to its height； as their mother was then dead； I had sometimes to come in as arbitrator； and settle the dispute according to the best of my judgment。 Generally； in the management of these concerns； I frequently thought that I discovered signs of rising talent； which I had seldom or never before seen in any of their age 。 。 。 A circumstance now occurs to my mind which I may as well mention。 When my children were very young； when； as far as I can remember； the oldest was about ten years of age； and the youngest about four； thinking that they knew more than I had yet discovered； in order to make them speak with less timidity； I deemed that if they were put under a sort of cover I might gain my end； and happening to have a mask in the house； I told them all to stand and speak boldly from under cover of the mask。
〃I began with the youngest （Anne； afterwards Acton Bell）； and asked what a child like her most wanted； she answered； 'Age and experience。' I asked the next （Emily； afterwards Ellis Bell）； what I had best do with her brother Branwell； who was sometimes a naughty boy； she answered； 'Reason with him； and when he won't listen to reason； whip him。' I asked Branwell what was the best way of knowing the difference between the intellects of man and woman； he answered； 'By considering the difference between them as to their bodies。' I then asked Charlotte what was the best book in the world； she answered； 'The Bible。' And what was the next best； she answered； 'The Book of Nature。' I then asked the next what was the best mode of education for a woman； she answered； 'That which would make her rule her house well。' Lastly； I asked the oldest what was the best mode of spending time； she answered； 'By laying it out in preparation for a happy eternity。' I may not have given precisely their words； but I have nearly done so； as they made a deep and lasting impression on my memory。 The substance； however； was exactly what I have stated。〃
The strange and quaint simplicity of the mode taken by the father to ascertain the hidden characters of his children； and the tone and character of these questions and answers； show the curious education which was made by the circumstances surrounding the Brontes。 They knew no other children。 They knew no other modes of thought than what were suggested to them by the fragments of clerical conversation which they overheard in the parlour； or the subjects of village and local interest which they heard discussed in the kitchen。 Each had their own strong characteristic flavour。
They took a vivid interest in the public characters； and the local and the foreign as well as home politics discussed in the newspapers。 Long before Maria Bronte died； at the age of eleven； her father used to say he could converse with her on any of the leading topics of the day with as much freedom and pleasure as with any grown…up person。
CHAPTER IV
About a year after Mrs。 Bronte's death； an elder sister； as I have before mentioned； came from Penzance to superintend her brother… in…law's household； and look after his children。 Miss Branwell was； I believe； a kindly and conscientious woman； with a good deal of character； but with the somewhat narrow ideas natural to one who had spent nearly all her life in the same place。 She had strong prejudices； and soon took a distaste to Yorkshire。 From Penzance； where plants which we in the north call greenhouse flowers grow in great profusion； and without any shelter even in the winter； and where the soft warm climate allows the inhabitants； if so disposed； to live pretty constantly in the open air； it was a great change for a lady considerably past forty to come and take up her abode in a place where neither flowers nor vegetables would flourish； and where a tree of even moderate dimensions might be hunted for far and wide； where the snow lay long and late on the moors； stretching bleakly and barely far up from the dwelling which was henceforward to be her home； and where often； on autumnal or winter nights； the four winds of heaven seemed to meet and rage together； tearing round the house as if they were wild beasts striving to find an entrance。 She missed the small round of cheerful； social visiting perpetually going on in a country town； she missed the friends she had known from her childhood； some of whom had been her parents' friends before they were hers； she disliked many of the customs of the place； and particularly dreaded the cold damp arising from the flag floors in the passages and parlours of Haworth Parsonage。 The stairs； too； I believe； are made of stone； and no wonder； when stone quarries are near； and trees are far to seek。 I have heard that Miss Branwell always went about the house in pattens； clicking up and down the stairs； from her dread of catching cold。 For the same reason； in the latter years of her life； she passed nearly all her time； and took most of her meals； in her bedroom。 The children respected her； and had that sort of affection for her which is generated by esteem； but I do not think they ever freely loved her。 It was a severe trial for any one at her time of life to change neighbourhood and habitation so entirely as she did； and the greater her merit。
I do not know whether Miss Branwell taught her nieces anything besides sewing； and the household arts in which Charlotte afterwards was such an adept。 Their regular lessons were said to their father； and they were always in the habit of picking up an immense amount of miscellaneous information for themselves。 But a year or so before this time； a school had been begun in the North of England for the daughters of clergymen。 The place was Cowan Bridge； a small hamlet on the coach…road between Leeds and Kendal； and thus easy of access from Haworth； as the coach ran daily； and one of its stages was at Keighley。 The yearly expense for each pupil （according to the entrance…rules given in the Report for 1842； and I believe they had not been increased since the establishment of the schools in 1823） was as follows：
〃Rule 11。 The terms for clothing； lodging； boarding； and educating； are 14L。 a year； half to be paid in advance； when the pupils are sent； and also 1L。 entrance…money； for the use of books； &c。 The system of education comprehends history； geography； the use of the globes； grammar； writing and arithmetic； all kinds of needlework； and the nicer kinds of household work such as getting up fine linen； ironing； &c。 If accomplishments are required； an additional charge of 3L。 a year is made for music or drawing； each。〃
Rule 3rd requests that the friends will state the line of education desired in the case of every pupil； having a regard to her future prospects。
Rule 4th states the clothing and toilette articles which a girl is expected to bring with her； and thus concludes： 〃The pupils all appear in the same dress。 They wear plain straw cottage bonnets； in summer white frocks on Sundays； and nankeen on other days； in winter； purple stuff frocks； and purple cloth cloaks。 For the sake of uniformity； therefore； they are required to bring 3L。 in lieu of frocks； pelisse； bonnet； tippet； and frills； making the whole sum which each pupil brings with her to the school …
7L。 half…year in advance。 1L。 entrance for books。 1L。 entrance for clothes。
The 8th rule is；〃All letters and parcels are inspected by the superintendent；〃 but this is a very prevalent regulation in all young ladies' schools； where I think it is generally understood that the schoolmistress may exercise this privilege； although it is certainly unwise in her to insist too frequently upon it。
There is nothing at all remarkable in any of the other regulations； a copy of which was doubtless in Mr。 Bronte's hands when he formed the determination to send his daughters to Cowan Bridge School； and he accordingly took Maria and Elizabeth thither in July； 1824。
I now come to a part of my subject which I find great difficulty in treating； because the evidence relating to it on each side is so conflicting that it seems almost impossible to arrive at the truth。 Miss Bronte more than once said to me； that she should not have written what she did of Lowood in 〃Jane Eyre；〃 if she had thought the place would have been so immediately identified with Cowan Bridge； although there was not a word i
