the life of charlotte bronte-1-第21章
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nd commons on the higher ground； which formed pleasant walks on holidays； and then comes the white gate into the field…path leading to Roe Head itself。
One of the bow…windowed rooms on the ground floor with the pleasant look…out I have described was the drawing…room； the other was the schoolroom。 The dining…room was on one side of the door； and faced the road。
The number of pupils； during the year and a half Miss Bronte was there； ranged from seven to ten； and as they did not require the whole of the house for their accommodation； the third story was unoccupied； except by the ghostly idea of a lady； whose rustling silk gown was sometimes heard by the listeners at the foot of the second flight of stairs。
The kind motherly nature of Miss W…； and the small number of the girls； made the establishment more like a private family than a school。 Moreover； she was a native of the district immediately surrounding Roe Head； as were the majority of her pupils。 Most likely Charlotte Bronte； in coming from Haworth； came the greatest distance of all。 〃E。's〃 home was five miles away； two other dear friends （the Rose and Jessie Yorke of 〃Shirley〃） lived still nearer； two or three came from Huddersfield； one or two from Leeds。
I shall now quote from a valuable letter which I have received from 〃Mary；〃 one of these early friends； distinct and graphic in expression； as becomes a cherished associate of Charlotte Bronte's。 The time referred to is her first appearance at Roe Head； on January 19th； 1831。
〃I first saw her coming out of a covered cart； in very old… fashioned clothes； and looking very cold and miserable。 She was coming to school at Miss W…'s。 When she appeared in the schoolroom； her dress was changed； but just as old。 She looked a little old woman； so short…sighted that she always appeared to be seeking something； and moving her head from side to side to catch a sight of it。 She was very shy and nervous； and spoke with a strong Irish accent。 When a book was given her； she dropped her head over it till her nose nearly touched it； and when she was told to hold her head up； up went the book after it； still close to her nose； so that it was not possible to help laughing。〃
This was the first impression she made upon one of those whose dear and valued friend she was to become in after…life。 Another of the girls recalls her first sight of Charlotte； on the day she came； standing by the schoolroom window； looking out on the snowy landscape； and crying； while all the rest were at play。 〃E。〃 was younger than she； and her tender heart was touched by the apparently desolate condition in which she found the oddly… dressed； odd…looking little girl that winter morning； as 〃sick for home she stood in tears；〃 in a new strange place； among new strange people。 Any over…demonstrative kindness would have scared the wild little maiden from Haworth； but 〃E。〃 （who is shadowed forth in the Caroline Helstone of 〃Shirley〃） managed to win confidence； and was allowed to give sympathy。
To quote again from 〃Mary's〃 letter：…
〃We thought her very ignorant； for she had never learnt grammar at all； and very little geography。〃
This account of her partial ignorance is confirmed by her other school…fellows。 But Miss W… was a lady of remarkable intelligence and of delicate tender sympathy。 She gave a proof of this in her first treatment of Charlotte。 The little girl was well…read； but not well…grounded。 Miss W… took her aside and told her she was afraid that she must place her in the second class for some time till she could overtake the girls of her own age in the knowledge of grammar； &c。； but poor Charlotte received this announcement with so sad a fit of crying； that Miss W…'s kind heart was softened； and she wisely perceived that； with such a girl； it would be better to place her in the first class； and allow her to make up by private study in those branches where she was deficient。
〃She would confound us by knowing things that were out of our range altogether。 She was acquainted with most of the short pieces of poetry that we had to learn by heart； would tell us the authors； the poems they were taken from； and sometimes repeat a page or two； and tell us the plot。 She had a habit of writing in italics （printing characters）； and said she had learnt it by writing in their magazine。 They brought out a 'magazine' once a month； and wished it to look as like print as possible。 She told us a tale out of it。 No one wrote in it； and no one read it； but herself； her brother； and two sisters。 She promised to show me some of these magazines； but retracted it afterwards； and would never be persuaded to do so。 In our play hours she sate； or stood still； with a book； if possible。 Some of us once urged her to be on our side in a game at ball。 She said she had never played； and could not play。 We made her try； but soon found that she could not see the ball； so we put her out。 She took all our proceedings with pliable indifference； and always seemed to need a previous resolution to say 'No' to anything。 She used to go and stand under the trees in the play…ground； and say it was pleasanter。 She endeavoured to explain this； pointing out the shadows； the peeps of sky； &c。 We understood but little of it。 She said that at Cowan Bridge she used to stand in the burn； on a stone； to watch the water flow by。 I told her she should have gone fishing； she said she never wanted。 She always showed physical feebleness in everything。 She ate no animal food at school。 It was about this time I told her she was very ugly。 Some years afterwards； I told her I thought I had been very impertinent。 She replied； 'You did me a great deal of good； Polly； so don't repent of it。' She used to draw much better； and more quickly； than anything we had seen before； and knew much about celebrated pictures and painters。 Whenever an opportunity offered of examining a picture or cut of any kind； she went over it piecemeal； with her eyes close to the paper； looking so long that we used to ask her 'what she saw in it。' She could always see plenty； and explained it very well。 She made poetry and drawing at least exceedingly interesting to me； and then I got the habit； which I have yet； of referring mentally to her opinion on all matters of that kind； along with many more； resolving to describe such and such things to her； until I start at the recollection that I never shall。〃
To feel the full force of this last sentenceto show how steady and vivid was the impression which Miss Bronte made on those fitted to appreciate herI must mention that the writer of this letter； dated January 18th； 1856； in which she thus speaks of constantly referring to Charlotte's opinion has never seen her for eleven years； nearly all of which have been passed among strange scenes； in a new continent； at the antipodes。
〃We used to be furious politicians； as one could hardly help being in 1832。 She knew the names of the two ministries； the one that resigned； and the one that succeeded and passed the Reform Bill。 She worshipped the Duke of Wellington； but said that Sir Robert Peel was not to be trusted； he did not act from principle like the rest； but from expediency。 I； being of the furious radical party； told her 'how could any of them trust one another； they were all of them rascals！' Then she would launch out into praises of the Duke of Wellington； referring to his actions； which I could not contradict； as I knew nothing about him。 She said she had taken interest in politics ever since she was five years old。 She did not get her opinions from her fatherthat is； not directlybut from the papers； &c。； he preferred。〃
In illustration of the truth of this； I may give an extract from a letter to her brother； written from Roe Head； May 17th； 1832：… 〃Lately I had begun to think that I had lost all the interest which I used formerly to take in politics； but the extreme pleasure I felt at the news of the Reform Bill's being thrown out by the House of Lords； and of the expulsion； or resignation of Earl Grey； &c。； convinced me that I have not as yet lost all my penchant for politics。 I am extremely glad that aunt has consented to take in 'Fraser's Magazine；' for； though I know from
