the life of charlotte bronte-1-第29章
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hadowed faces； and wondering whether I could trace the mysterious expression which is said to foretell an early death。 I had some fond superstitious hope that the column divided their fates from hers； who stood apart in the canvas； as in life she survived。 I liked to see that the bright side of the pillar was towards HERthat the light in the picture fell on HER： I might more truly have sought in her presentmentnay； in her living facefor the sign of deathin her prime。 They were good likenesses； however badly executed。 From thence I should guess his family augured truly that； if Branwell had but the opportunity； and； alas！ had but the moral qualities； he might turn out a great painter。
The best way of preparing him to become so appeared to be to send him as a pupil to the Royal Academy。 I dare say he longed and yearned to follow this path； principally because it would lead him to that mysterious Londonthat Babylon the greatwhich seems to have filled the imaginations and haunted the minds of all the younger members of this recluse family。 To Branwell it was more than a vivid imagination； it was an impressed reality。 By dint of studying maps； he was as well acquainted with it； even down to its by…ways； as if he had lived there。 Poor misguided fellow！ this craving to see and know London； and that stronger craving after fame； were never to be satisfied。 He was to die at the end of a short and blighted life。 But in this year of 1835； all his home kindred were thinking how they could best forward his views； and how help him up to the pinnacle where he desired to be。 What their plans were； let Charlotte explain。 These are not the first sisters who have laid their lives as a sacrifice before their brother's idolized wish。 Would to God they might be the last who met with such a miserable return！
〃Haworth； July 6th； 1835。
〃I had hoped to have had the extreme pleasure of seeing you at Haworth this summer； but human affairs are mutable； and human resolutions must bend to the course of events。 We are all about to divide； break up； separate。 Emily is going to school； Branwell is going to London； and I am going to be a governess。 This last determination I formed myself； knowing that I should have to take the step sometime； 'and better sune as syne；' to use the Scotch proverb； and knowing well that papa would have enough to do with his limited income； should Branwell be placed at the Royal Academy； and Emily at Roe Head。 Where am I going to reside？ you will ask。 Within four miles of you； at a place neither of us is unacquainted with； being no other than the identical Roe Head mentioned above。 Yes！ I am going to teach in the very school where I was myself taught。 Miss W… made me the offer； and I preferred it to one or two proposals of private governess…ship； which I had before received。 I am sadvery sadat the thoughts of leaving home； but dutynecessitythese are stern mistresses； who will not be disobeyed。 Did I not once say you ought to be thankful for your independence？ I felt what I said at the time； and I repeat it now with double earnestness； if anything would cheer me； it is the idea of being so near you。 Surely； you and Polly will come and see me； it would be wrong in me to doubt it； you were never unkind yet。 Emily and I leave home on the 27th of this month； the idea of being together consoles us both somewhat； and； truth； since I must enter a situation； 'My lines have fallen in pleasant places。' I both love and respect Miss W…。〃
CHAPTER VIII
On the 29th of July； 1835； Charlotte； now a little more than nineteen years old； went as teacher to Miss W…'s。 Emily accompanied her as a pupil； but she became literally ill from home…sickness； and could not settle to anything； and after passing only three months at Roe Head； returned to the parsonage and the beloved moors。
Miss Bronte gives the following reasons as those which prevented Emily's remaining at school； and caused the substitution of her younger sister in her place at Miss W…'s：…
〃My sister Emily loved the moors。 Flowers brighter than the rose bloomed in the blackest of the heath for her；out of a sullen hollow in a livid hill…side； her mind could make an Eden。 She found in the bleak solitude many and dear delights； and not the least and best…loved wasliberty。 Liberty was the breath of Emily's nostrils； without it she perished。 The change from her own home to a school； and from her own very noiseless； very secluded； but unrestricted and unartificial mode of life； to one of disciplined routine （though under the kindest auspices）； was what she failed in enduring。 Her nature proved here too strong for her fortitude。 Every morning； when she woke； the vision of home and the moors rushed on her； and darkened and saddened the day that lay before her。 Nobody knew what ailed her but me。 I knew only too well。 In this struggle her health was quickly broken： her white face； attenuated form； and failing strength； threatened rapid decline。 I felt in my heart she would die； if she did not go home； and with this conviction obtained her recall。 She had only been three months at school； and it was some years before the experiment of sending her from home was again ventured on。〃
This physical suffering on Emily's part when absent from Haworth； after recurring several times under similar circumstances； became at length so much an acknowledged fact； that whichever was obliged to leave home； the sisters decided that Emily must remain there； where alone she could enjoy anything like good health。 She left it twice again in her life； once going as teacher to a school in Halifax for six months； and afterwards accompanying Charlotte to Brussels for ten。 When at home； she took the principal part of the cooking upon herself； and did all the household ironing； and after Tabby grew old and infirm； it was Emily who made all the bread for the family； and any one passing by the kitchen…door； might have seen her studying German out of an open book； propped up before her； as she kneaded the dough； but no study； however interesting； interfered with the goodness of the bread； which was always light and excellent。 Books were； indeed； a very common sight in that kitchen； the girls were taught by their father theoretically； and by their aunt； practically； that to take an active part in all household work was； in their position； woman's simple duty； but in their careful employment of time； they found many an odd five minutes for reading while watching the cakes； and managed the union of two kinds of employment better than King Alfred。
Charlotte's life at Miss W…'s was a very happy one； until her health failed。 She sincerely loved and respected the former schoolmistress； to whom she was now become both companion and friend。 The girls were hardly strangers to her； some of them being younger sisters of those who had been her own playmates。 Though the duties of the day might be tedious and monotonous； there were always two or three happy hours to look forward to in the evening； when she and Miss W… sat togethersometimes late into the nightand had quiet pleasant conversations； or pauses of silence as agreeable； because each felt that as soon as a thought or remark occurred which they wished to express； there was an intelligent companion ready to sympathise； and yet they were not compelled to 〃make talk。〃
Miss W… was always anxious to afford Miss Bronte every opportunity of recreation in her power； but the difficulty often was to persuade her to avail herself of the invitations which came； urging her to spend Saturday and Sunday with 〃E。〃 and 〃Mary；〃 in their respective homes； that lay within the distance of a walk。 She was too apt to consider； that allowing herself a holiday was a dereliction of duty； and to refuse herself the necessary change； from something of an over…ascetic spirit； betokening a loss of healthy balance in either body or mind。 Indeed； it is clear that such was the case； from a passage； referring to this time； in the letter of 〃Mary〃 from which I have before given extracts。
〃Three years after〃 （the period when they were at school together）〃I heard that she had gone as teacher to Miss W…'s。 I went to see her； and asked how she could give s
