the life of charlotte bronte-1-第20章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
were the smallest I ever saw； when one of the former was placed in mine； it was like the soft touch of a bird in the middle of my palm。 The delicate long fingers had a peculiar fineness of sensation； which was one reason why all her handiwork； of whatever kindwriting； sewing； knittingwas so clear in its minuteness。 She was remarkably neat in her whole personal attire； but she was dainty as to the fit of her shoes and gloves。
I can well imagine that the grave serious composure； which； when I knew her； gave her face the dignity of an old Venetian portrait； was no acquisition of later years； but dated from that early age when she found herself in the position of an elder sister to motherless children。 But in a girl only just entered on her teens； such an expression would be called （to use a country phrase） 〃old…fashioned；〃 and in 1831； the period of which I now write； we must think of her as a little； set； antiquated girl； very quiet in manners； and very quaint in dress； for besides the influence exerted by her father's ideas concerning the simplicity of attire befitting the wife and daughters of a country clergyman； her aunt； on whom the duty of dressing her nieces principally devolved； had never been in society since she left Penzance； eight or nine years before； and the Penzance fashions of that day were still dear to her heart。
In January； 1831； Charlotte was sent to school again。 This time she went as a pupil to Miss W…； who lived at Roe Head； a cheerful roomy country house； standing a little apart in a field； on the right of the road from Leeds to Huddersfield。 Three tiers of old… fashioned semicircular bow windows run from basement to roof； and look down upon a long green slope of pasture…land； ending in the pleasant woods of Kirklees； Sir George Armitage's park。 Although Roe Head and Haworth are not twenty miles apart； the aspect of the country is as totally dissimilar as if they enjoyed a different climate。 The soft curving and heaving landscape round the former gives a stranger the idea of cheerful airiness on the heights； and of sunny warmth in the broad green valleys below。 It is just such a neighbourhood as the monks loved； and traces of the old Plantagenet times are to be met with everywhere； side by side with the manufacturing interests of the West Riding of to…day。 There is the park of Kirklees； full of sunny glades； speckled with black shadows of immemorial yew…trees； the grey pile of building； formerly a 〃House of professed Ladies；〃 the mouldering stone in the depth of the wood； under which Robin Hood is said to lie； close outside the park； an old stone…gabled house； now a roadside inn； but which bears the name of the 〃Three Nuns；〃 and has a pictured sign to correspond。 And this quaint old inn is frequented by fustian…dressed mill…hands from the neighbouring worsted factories； which strew the high road from Leeds to Huddersfield； and form the centres round which future villages gather。 Such are the contrasts of modes of living； and of times and seasons； brought before the traveller on the great roads that traverse the West Riding。 In no other part of England； I fancy； are the centuries brought into such close； strange contact as in the district in which Roe Head is situated。 Within six miles of Miss W…'s houseon the left of the road； coming from Leedslie the remains of Howley Hall； now the property of Lord Cardigan； but formerly belonging to a branch of the Saviles。 Near to it is Lady Anne's well； 〃Lady Anne；〃 according to tradition； having been worried and eaten by wolves as she sat at the well； to which the indigo…dyed factory people from Birstall and Batley woollen mills would formerly repair on Palm Sunday； when the waters possess remarkable medicinal efficacy； and it is still believed by some that they assume a strange variety of colours at six o'clock on the morning of that day。
All round the lands held by the farmer who lives in the remains of Howley Hall are stone houses of to…day； occupied by the people who are making their living and their fortunes by the woollen mills that encroach upon and shoulder out the proprietors of the ancient halls。 These are to be seen in every direction； picturesque； many…gabled； with heavy stone carvings of coats of arms for heraldic ornament； belonging to decayed families； from whose ancestral lands field after field has been shorn away； by the urgency of rich manufacturers pressing hard upon necessity。
A smoky atmosphere surrounds these old dwellings of former Yorkshire squires； and blights and blackens the ancient trees that overshadow them； cinder…paths lead up to them； the ground round about is sold for building upon； but still the neighbours； though they subsist by a different state of things； remember that their forefathers lived in agricultural dependence upon the owners of these halls； and treasure up the traditions connected with the stately households that existed centuries ago。 Take Oakwell Hall； for instance。 It stands in a pasture…field； about a quarter of a mile from the high road。 It is but that distance from the busy whirr of the steam…engines employed in the woollen mills at Birstall； and if you walk to it from Birstall Station about meal… time； you encounter strings of mill…hands； blue with woollen dye； and cranching in hungry haste over the cinder…paths bordering the high road。 Turning off from this to the right； you ascend through an old pasture…field； and enter a short by…road； called the 〃Bloody Lane〃a walk haunted by the ghost of a certain Captain Batt； the reprobate proprietor of an old hall close by； in the days of the Stuarts。 From the 〃Bloody Lane；〃 overshadowed by trees； you come into the field in which Oakwell Hall is situated。 It is known in the neighbourhood to be the place described as 〃Field Head；〃 Shirley's residence。 The enclosure in front； half court； half garden； the panelled hall； with the gallery opening into the bed…chambers running round； the barbarous peach…coloured drawing…room； the bright look…out through the garden…door upon the grassy lawns and terraces behind； where the soft…hued pigeons still love to coo and strut in the sun；are described in 〃Shirley。〃 The scenery of that fiction lies close around； the real events which suggested it took place in the immediate neighbourhood。
They show a bloody footprint in a bedchamber of Oakwell Hall； and tell a story connected with it； and with the lane by which the house is approached。 Captain Batt was believed to be far away； his family was at Oakwell； when in the dusk； one winter evening； he came stalking along the lane； and through the hall； and up the stairs； into his own room； where he vanished。 He had been killed in a duel in London that very same afternoon of December 9th； 1684。
The stones of the Hall formed part of the more ancient vicarage； which an ancestor of Captain Batt's had seized in the troublous times for property which succeeded the Reformation。 This Henry Batt possessed himself of houses and money without scruple； and； at last； stole the great bell of Birstall Church； for which sacrilegious theft a fine was imposed on the land； and has to be paid by the owner of the Hall to this day。
But the Oakwell property passed out of the hands of the Batts at the beginning of the last century； collateral descendants succeeded； and left this picturesque trace of their having been。 In the great hall hangs a mighty pair of stag's horns； and dependent from them a printed card； recording the fact that； on the 1st of September； 1763； there was a great hunting…match； when this stag was slain； and that fourteen gentlemen shared in the chase； and dined on the spoil in that hall； along with Fairfax Fearneley； Esq。； the owner。 The fourteen names are given； doubtless 〃mighty men of yore；〃 but； among them all； Sir Fletcher Norton； Attorney…General； and Major…General Birch were the only ones with which I had any association in 1855。 Passing on from Oakwell there lie houses right and left； which were well known to Miss Bronte when she lived at Roe Head； as the hospitable homes of some of her schoolfellows。 Lanes branch off for three or four miles to heaths and commons on the higher ground； which formed pleasant walks on holidays； and then comes the white g
