the life of charlotte bronte-1-第47章

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；　and　desolate　Yorkshire　hills。〃


They　wanted　learning。　　They　came　for　learning。　　They　would　learn。　Where　they　had　a　distinct　purpose　to　be　achieved　in　intercourse　with　their　fellows；　they　forgot　themselves；　at　all　other　times　they　were　miserably　shy。　　Mrs。　Jenkins　told　me　that　she　used　to　ask　them　to　spend　Sundays　and　holidays　with　her；　until　she　found　that　they　felt　more　pain　than　pleasure　from　such　visits。　　Emily　hardly　ever　uttered　more　than　a　monosyllable。　　Charlotte　was　sometimes　excited　sufficiently　to　speak　eloquently　and　wellon　certain　subjects；　but　before　her　tongue　was　thus　loosened；　she　had　a　habit　of　gradually　wheeling　round　on　her　chair；　so　as　almost　to　conceal　her　face　from　the　person　to　whom　she　was　speaking。

And　yet　there　was　much　in　Brussels　to　strike　a　responsive　chord　in　her　powerful　imagination。　　At　length　she　was　seeing　somewhat　of　that　grand　old　world　of　which　she　had　dreamed。　　As　the　gay　crowds　passed　by　her；　so　had　gay　crowds　paced　those　streets　for　centuries；　in　all　their　varying　costumes。　　Every　spot　told　an　historic　tale；　extending　back　into　the　fabulous　ages　when　Jan　and　Jannika；　the　aboriginal　giant　and　giantess；　looked　over　the　wall；　forty　feet　high；　of　what　is　now　the　Rue　Villa　Hermosa；　and　peered　down　upon　the　new　settlers　who　were　to　turn　them　out　of　the　country　in　which　they　had　lived　since　the　deluge。　　The　great　solemn　Cathedral　of　St。　Gudule；　the　religious　paintings；　the　striking　forms　and　ceremonies　of　the　Romish　Churchall　made　a　deep　impression　on　the　girls；　fresh　from　the　bare　walls　and　simple　worship　of　Haworth　Church。　　And　then　they　were　indignant　with　themselves　for　having　been　susceptible　of　this　impression；　and　their　stout　Protestant　hearts　arrayed　themselves　against　the　false　Duessa　that　had　thus　imposed　upon　them。

The　very　building　they　occupied　as　pupils；　in　Madame　Heger's　pensionnat；　had　its　own　ghostly　train　of　splendid　associations；　marching　for　ever；　in　shadowy　procession；　through　and　through　the　ancient　rooms；　and　shaded　alleys　of　the　gardens。　　From　the　splendour　of　to…day　in　the　Rue　Royale；　if　you　turn　aside；　near　the　statue　of　the　General　Beliard；　you　look　down　four　flights　of　broad　stone　steps　upon　the　Rue　d'Isabelle。　　The　chimneys　of　the　houses　in　it　are　below　your　feet。　　Opposite　to　the　lowest　flight　of　steps；　there　is　a　large　old　mansion　facing　you；　with　a　spacious　walled　garden　behindand　to　the　right　of　it。　　In　front　of　this　garden；　on　the　same　side　as　the　mansion；　and　with　great　boughs　of　trees　sweeping　over　their　lowly　roofs；　is　a　row　of　small；　picturesque；　old…fashioned　cottages；　not　unlike；　in　degree　and　uniformity；　to　the　almshouses　so　often　seen　in　an　English　country　town。　　The　Rue　d'Isabelle　looks　as　though　it　had　been　untouched　by　the　innovations　of　the　builder　for　the　last　three　centuries；　and　yet　any　one　might　drop　a　stone　into　it　from　the　back　windows　of　the　grand　modern　hotels　in　the　Rue　Royale；　built　and　furnished　in　the　newest　Parisian　fashion。

In　the　thirteenth　century；　the　Rue　d'Isabelle　was　called　the　Fosse…aux…Chiens；　and　the　kennels　for　the　ducal　hounds　occupied　the　place　where　Madame　Heger's　pensionnat　now　stands。　　A　hospital　（in　the　ancient　large　meaning　of　the　word）　succeeded　to　the　kennel。　　The　houseless　and　the　poor；　perhaps　the　leprous；　were　received；　by　the　brethren　of　a　religious　order；　in　a　building　on　this　sheltered　site；　and　what　had　been　a　fosse　for　defence；　was　filled　up　with　herb…gardens　and　orchards　for　upwards　of　a　hundred　years。　　Then　came　the　aristocratic　guild　of　the　cross…bow　men　that　company　the　members　whereof　were　required　to　prove　their　noble　descentuntainted　for　so　many　generations；　before　they　could　be　admitted　into　the　guild；　and；　being　admitted；　were　required　to　swear　a　solemn　oath；　that　no　other　pastime　or　exercise　should　take　up　any　part　of　their　leisure；　the　whole　of　which　was　to　be　devoted　to　the　practice　of　the　noble　art　of　shooting　with　the　cross…bow。　　Once　a　year　a　grand　match　was　held；　under　the　patronage　of　some　saint；　to　whose　church…steeple　was　affixed　the　bird；　or　semblance　of　a　bird；　to　be　hit　by　the　victor。　｛5｝　　The　conqueror　in　the　game　was　Roi　des　Arbaletriers　for　the　coming　year；　and　received　a　jewelled　decoration　accordingly；　which　he　was　entitled　to　wear　for　twelve　months；　after　which　he　restored　it　to　the　guild；　to　be　again　striven　for。　　The　family　of　him　who　died　during　the　year　that　he　was　king；　were　bound　to　present　the　decoration　to　the　church　of　the　patron　saint　of　the　guild；　and　to　furnish　a　similar　prize　to　be　contended　for　afresh。　　These　noble　cross…bow　men　of　the　middle　ages　formed　a　sort　of　armed　guard　to　the　powers　in　existence；　and　almost　invariably　took　the　aristocratic；　in　preference　to　the　democratic　side；　in　the　numerous　civil　dissensions　of　the　Flemish　towns。　　Hence　they　were　protected　by　the　authorities；　and　easily　obtained　favourable　and　sheltered　sites　for　their　exercise…ground。　　And　thus　they　came　to　occupy　the　old　fosse；　and　took　possession　of　the　great　orchard　of　the　hospital；　lying　tranquil　and　sunny　in　the　hollow　below　the　rampart。

But；　in　the　sixteenth　century；　it　became　necessary　to　construct　a　street　through　the　exercise…ground　of　the　〃Arbaletriers　du　Grand　Serment；〃　and；　after　much　delay；　the　company　were　induced　by　the　beloved　Infanta　Isabella　to　give　up　the　requisite　plot　of　ground。　In　recompense　for　this；　Isabellawho　herself　was　a　member　of　the　guild；　and　had　even　shot　down　the　bird；　and　been　queen　in　1615　made　many　presents　to　the　arbaletriers；　and；　in　return；　the　grateful　city；　which　had　long　wanted　a　nearer　road　to　St。　Gudule；　but　been　baffled　by　the　noble　archers；　called　the　street　after　her　name。　　She；　as　a　sort　of　indemnification　to　the　arbaletriers；　caused　a　〃great　mansion〃　to　be　built　for　their　accommodation　in　the　new　Rue　d'Isabelle。　　This　mansion　was　placed　in　front　of　their　exercise…ground；　and　was　of　a　square　shape。　　On　a　remote　part　of　the　walls；　may　still　be　read　…


PHILLIPPO　IIII。　　HISPAN。　　REGE。　　ISABELLA…CLARA…EUGENIA　HISPAN。　INFANS。　　MAGNAE　GULDAE　REGINA　GULDAE　FRATRIBUS　POSUIT。


In　that　mansion　were　held　all　the　splendid　feasts　of　the　Grand　Serment　des　Arbaletriers。　　The　master…archer　lived　there　constantly；　in　order　to　be　ever　at　hand　to　render　his　services　to　the　guild。　　The　great　saloon　was　also　used　for　the　court　balls　and　festivals；　when　the　archers　were　not　admitted。　　The　Infanta　caused　other　and　smaller　houses　to　be　built　in　her　new　street；　to　serve　as　residences　for　her　〃garde　noble；〃　and　for　her　〃garde　bourgeoise；〃　a　small　habitation　each；　some　of　which　still　remain；　to　remind　us　of　English　almshouses。　　The　〃great　mansion；〃　with　its　quadrangular　form；　the　spacious　saloononce　used　for　the　archducal　balls；　where　the　dark；　grave　Spaniards　mixed　with　the　blond　nobility　of　Brabant　and　Flandersnow　a　school…room　for　Belgian　girls；　the　cross…bow　men's　archery…groundall　are　there　the　pensionnat　of　Madame　Heger。

This　lady　was　assisted　in　the　work　of　instruction　by　her　husband　a　kindly；　wise；　good；　and　religious　manwhose　acquaintance　I　am　glad　to　have　made；　and　who　has　furnished　me　with　some　interesting　details；　from　his　wife's　recollections　and　his　own；　of　the　two　Miss　Bronte　during　their　residence　in　Brussels。　　He　had　the　better　opportunities　of　watching　them；　from　his　giving　lessons　in　the　French　language　and　literature　in　the　school。　　A　short　extract　from　a　letter；　written　to　me　by　a　French　lady　resident　in　Brussels；　and　well　qualified　to　judge；　will　help　to　show　the　estimation　in　which　he　is　held。

〃Je　ne　connais　pas　personnellement　M。　Heger；　mais　je　sais　qu'il　est　peu　de　caracteres　aussi　nobles；　aussi　admirables　que　le　sien。　Il　est　un　des　membres　les　plus　zeles　de　cette　Societe　de　S。　Vincent　de　Paul　dont　je　t'ai　deje　parle；　et　ne　se　contente　pas　de　servir　les　pauvres　et　les　malades；　mais　leur　consacre　encore　les　soirees。　　Apres　des　journees　absorbees　tout　entieres　par　les　devoirs　que　sa　place　lui　impose；　il　reunit　les　pauvres；　les　ouvriers；　leur　donne　des　cours　gratuits；　et　trouve　encore　le　moyen　de　les　amuser　en　les　instruisant。　　Ce　devouement　te　dira　assez　que　M。　Heger　est　profondement　et　ouvertement　religieux。　　Il　a　des　manieres　franches　et　avenantes；　il　se　fait　aimer　de　tous　ceux　qui　l'approchent；　et　surtout　des　enfants。　　I