July 26, 2025 • 42 mins
Delve into the fascinating life of Charlotte Brontë, the eldest among the renowned Brontë sisters, recognized as pillars of English literature. Her most celebrated work, Jane Eyre, stands as an everlasting classic. Just two years post her demise, her close friend Elizabeth Gaskell penned down her biography. This compelling biography invites you to discover more about the extraordinary Charlotte Brontë. Please note that Volume 2 of this work is also available as a separate recording.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Volume one, section sixteen of the Life of Charlotte Bronte.
This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
visit LibriVox dot org. Recording by Bruce Piri.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Read in French by and by Ruth Golding.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
The Life of Charlotte Bronte by Elizabeth Cleihorne Gascill, Volume one,
section sixteen.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Imitacion le treneer Gisuissan carne portray de Pierre leermit Charlotte Bronte,
de tnsent il pares Laterre, Deison, destinyet Releisanstremont.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Predestinyquos Priscian, the Grand Moreaux u politique, Cells, conquerrent and Alexandre,
Juan Natila Keypus common uragon a purity atmosphere moral come lareale.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Purify at post physique, cell and Revolutionnaire and Comwell U
Robespierre qui FedEx Pierre le visit the Dynasty an enthusiast
ligier camou Pierre Larmitt qui avec les sur l'vier de
(01:32):
la pence, sou lef de nacion, tierre les de racine,
le transplant dont de clema nouveau, purplon lasi avec lesabeiton
de l rope, pierre larmit gentium, the Picardi of France
in uti France poor qua doong natil passe savi come
(01:56):
les gentilleum say contemporani la la a la chas don
s le son san quiet. The Saladin would say, saracens
persiliad certe natur in ardor for your activity and on
(02:16):
table quin permea reste inactive quill force auer i found
excele faculte puissant and dormo saint prette comes arise quill
ratiene pierre sug marche pierre pri la profession des arm
(02:41):
cis on ardet space savigue quip roviance. You know ro boosts,
santelre su et bras militaire, rien de plusson ard rede sell,
the lame sa flame, the pure l selve versill s
(03:06):
reco lag nest de pierre at troubles parpassions rag le
natire puissant sante extreme or two and the connez la
tier der nied don le bian knied don a male
pierre don chercha da boor a videmo la glois kiss
(03:27):
a fletri le pleaser qui trompe ma il fibianto la
de couvert biato persons kill pour suive NetEc uni lusion
a la cal pers a time in u t i
rotrna don iro commersavoyage de la vill ma set four
(03:51):
in les vita lu chemins passire quimen a la pardisson
el prix le chemin etroi quimen a la vi e
piscu the trage at a long a deficile ill jetta
la caskell is armed you solder a severti de la
bis sample do one a la vi militaire six seder
(04:14):
la vi monastic carles extremes touche a shalem sanser la
sand ponti ramen a Louis lari ger de la penitence.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
One Pierre ill.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Ave Louis and prancip ki lampsia rested long inactive skill
soir that borne ill luisizeppa calluis memphu religio calluis memph
You can thank you de la reality to Christianism sik
(04:58):
ilfax got two to le rope catute lasi partagas a
convicio a professor lacroyance de la croix, la piertev eleve
par la jemi nouri parla solitude, finettre un space, dan
spiracio exaltson m espiracio so on arm E lorski quita
(05:25):
sasslul Ropariu don monde il porte con maurice lamprante de
la divinitees your son France A two two raccon louis
la vere tablas a portre de la crois, mame nave
romuele mal nacion de laurent come alor Pierre ramue Les
(05:48):
purpos austere de lxidon ilfa le said elo conce feud uniforce,
prasco miraculos quipuve persuade pace perd de vantre le rouyum.
I found the procure des arm ed solder poor ed
(06:09):
a free a Pierre don la guer sante kill vos
a videl la pisants de pierre netelmo in pisance physique
carla natur who poor dear dieux etemparcial don la distribution
the s do i la cord land sas fan la
(06:32):
grace la baute, the perfectio corparel a lot desprit la
grande moral, Pierre don't get a non petite unphysiognomy per
areab me i laves courage said, constance, set, enthusiasm, set
(06:53):
energy de santimore, qui a cars tut opposition, equila, volunteers
and sir the villa alois the to in the Nacion
poor farmer and Autie day the lan influence caxersas at
home Sieur character shows l d de sant ilfos represente
(07:17):
or millie de larmae de croise don santu bl the prophet,
the guerrier, le pauvre, armit that you do pauvre the
lamb Abbi gree A la plu prison in let antourre,
multitude in multitude qui ne vouac louis tontes qui louis
(07:44):
in a voules says jur leve samb dear geuvois dieux
ales je perdue de view latter dance moment Miss Pauli
gree A poor Luis come le monto de leisure, ill
(08:05):
laenvelope dancepiracio ill Pierre le don lavnier il Vogerusalem delivre
the sin se libre il voi la croiss Jean attache
du tempe e lori flam e, la croi rouge sante
(08:26):
tablast place non Selmont, Pierre rois se merve may in
le fevoi at t cirqui lanours il ravive esperance, courage,
don't do the fatigue prevac la Batti and Sora Livre,
(08:46):
Domin Mela, Victoire and de cid Sir Pierre promi ele
croise cefi as a aparol, come as Israelite Sophie, as
said Moise, it is jesuit.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
As a companion portrait. To this, Emily chose to depict
Harold on the eve of the Battle of Hastings. It
appears to me that her devoir is superior to Charlotte's
in power and in imagination, and fully equal to it
in language. And that this in both cases, considering how
little practical knowledge of French they had when they arrived
at Brussels in February, and that they wrote without the
(09:26):
aid of dictionary or grammar, is unusual and remarkable. We
shall see the progress Charlotte had made in ease and
grace of style a year later. In the choice of
subjects left to her selection. She frequently took characters and
scenes from the Old Testament, with which all her writings
show that she was especially familiar the picturesqueness and color,
(09:50):
if I may so express it. The grandeur and breadth
of its narrations impressed her deeply to use Monsieur Aget's
expression Elee te nourri de le Bible, after he had
read de Lavigne's poem on Joan of Arc. She chose
the vision and death of Moses on Mount Nebo to
write about, and in looking over this devoir, I was
(10:11):
much struck with one or two of Monsieur Age's remarks.
After describing in a quiet and simple manner the circumstances
under which Moses took leave of the Israelites, her imagination
becomes warmed, and she launches out into a noble strain,
depicting the glorious futurity of the Chosen people as looking
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down upon the promised land, he sees their prosperity and
prophetic vision. But before reaching the middle of this glowing description,
she interrupts herself to discuss for a moment the doubts
that have been thrown on the miraculous relations in the
Old Testament, Monsieur Ajer remarks, when you are writing, place
your argument first in cool, prosaic language. But when you
(10:54):
have thrown the reins on the neck of your imagination,
do not pull her up to reason gain. In the
vision of Moses, he sees the maidens leading forth their
flocks to the wells at eventide, and they are described
as wearing flowery garlands. Here the writer is reminded of
the necessity of preserving a certain verisimilitude. Moses might, from
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his elevation see mountains and plains, groups of maidens, and
herds of cattle, but could hardly perceive the details of
dress or the ornaments of the head. When they had
made further progress, Monsieur Age took up a more advanced plan,
that of synthetical teaching. He would read to them various
accounts of the same person or event, and make them
(11:40):
notice the points of agreement and disagreement where they were different.
He would make them seek the origin of that difference
by causing them to examine well into the character and
position of each separate writer and how they would be
likely to affect his conception of truth. For instance, take Cromwell.
He would read Bossuet's description of him in the Horizont
(12:02):
fiunebre de la rend Angletaire, and show how in this
he was considered entirely from the religious point of view,
as an instrument in the hands of God, preordained to
his work. Then he would make them read Guiseaux and
see how in this view Cromwell was endowed with the
utmost power of free will, but governed by no higher
(12:24):
motive than that of expediency, while Carlyle regarded him as
a character regulated by a strong and conscientious desire to
do the will of the Lord. Then he would desire
them to remember that the royalist and commonwealth men had
each their different opinions of the Great Protector, and from
these conflicting characters he would require them to sift and
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collect the elements of truth and try to unite them
into a perfect whole. This kind of exercise delighted Charlotte.
It called into play her powers of analysis, which were extraordinary,
and she very soon excelled in it. Wherever the Brontes
could be national, they were so with the same tenacity
(13:06):
of attachment, which made them suffer as they did whenever
they left Haworth. They were Protestant to the backbone in
other things beside their religion, but pre eminently so in
that touched as Charlotte was by the letter of Saint
Ignatius before alluded to. She claimed equal self devotion and
from as high a motive for some of the missionaries
(13:27):
of the English Church sent out to toil and to
perish on the poisonous African coast, and wrote as an
imitation letter do misionnaire Sierra Leone Afrique. Something of her feeling, too,
appears in the following letter, Brussels, eighteen forty two. I
(13:49):
consider it doubtful whether I shall come home in September
or not. Madame Agier has made a proposal for both
me and Emily to stay another half year, offering to
dismiss her Englishman master and take me as English teacher,
also to employ Emily some part of each day in
teaching music to a certain number of the pupils. For
these services we are to be allowed to continue our
(14:10):
studies in French and German, and to have bored et cetera,
without paying for it. No salaries, however, are offered. Their
proposal is kind, and in a great selfish city like Brussels,
and a great selfish school containing nearly ninety pupils, boarders
and day pupils included, implies a degree of interest which
demands gratitude in return. I am inclined to accept it.
(14:33):
What think you, I don't deny I sometimes wish to
be in England, or that I have brief attacks of homesickness.
But on the whole I have borne a very valiant
heart so far, and I have been happy in Brussels
because I have always been fully occupied with the employments
that I like. Emily is making rapid progress in French,
(14:53):
German music and drawing. Monsieur and Madame Ager begin to
recognize the valuable parts of her care character under her singularities.
If the national character of the Belgians is to be
measured by the character of most of the girls in
this school, it is a character singularly cold, selfish, animal
(15:14):
and inferior. They are very mutinous and difficult for the
teachers to manage, and their principles are rotten to the core.
We avoid them, which is not difficult to do, as
we have the brand of Protestantism and Anglicism upon us.
People talk of the danger which Protestants expose themselves to
in going to reside in Catholic countries and thereby running
(15:36):
the chance of changing their faith. My advice to all
Protestants who are tempted to do anything so be soughted
as to turn Catholics, is to walk over the sea
onto the continent, to attend Mass sedulously for a time,
to note well the mummeries thereof also the idiotic mercenary
aspect of all the priests. And then if they are
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still disposed to consider papistry in any other light than
a most feeble, childish piece of humbug, let them turn
Papists at once. That's all. I consider Methodism, Quakerism, and
the extremes of High and Low Churchism foolish, but Roman
Catholicism beats them all. At the same time, allow me
(16:19):
to tell you that there are some Catholics who are
as good as any Christians can be, to whom the
Bible is a sealed book, and much better than many Protestants.
When the Brontes first went to Brussels, it was with
the intention of remaining there for six months, or until
the Grande Vaccans began in September. The duties of the
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school were then suspended for six weeks or two months,
and it seemed a desirable period for their return, But
the proposal mentioned in the foregoing letter altered their plans. Besides,
they were happy in the feeling that they were making
progress in all the knowledge they had so long been
yearning to acquire. They were happy too, in possessing friends
whose society had been for years congenial to them, and
(17:04):
in occasional meetings with these they could have the inexpressible
solace to residence in a foreign country, and peculiarly such
to the Brontes, of talking over the intelligence received from
their respective homes, referring to past or planning for future days.
Mary and her sister, the bright, dancing, laughing Martha, were
(17:25):
parlour boarders in an establishment just beyond the barriers of Brussels. Again,
the cousins of these friends were resident in the town,
and at their house Charlotte and Emily were always welcome,
though their overpowering shyness prevented their more valuable qualities from
being known and generally kept them silent. They spent their
(17:45):
weekly holiday with his family for many months, but at
the end of the time Emily was as impenetrable to
friendly advances as at the beginning, while Charlotte was too
physically weak, as Mary has expressed it, to gather up
her forces to express any difference or opposition of opinion,
and had consequently an assenting and deferential manner, strangely at
(18:08):
variance with what they knew of her remarkable talents and
decided character. At this house, the Teas and the Bronts
could look forward to meeting each other pretty frequently. There
was another English family where Charlotte soon became a welcome guest,
and where I suspect she felt herself more at ease
than either at Missus Jenkins or the friends whom I
(18:28):
have first mentioned. An English physician with a large family
of daughters went to reside at Brussels for the sake
of their education. He placed them at Madame Ejet's school
in July eighteen forty two, not a month before the
beginning of the Grand Facance on August fifteenth. In order
to make the most of their time and become accustomed
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to the language, these English sisters went daily through the
holidays to the Poncionae in the Rue Deis of Bee.
Six or eight boarders remained besides the misis Sprontes. They
were there during the whole time, never even having the
break to their monotonous life which passing an occasional day
with a friend would have afforded them, but devoting themselves
(19:11):
with indefatigable diligence to the different studies in which they
were engaged. Their position in the school appeared to these
newcomers analogous to what is often called that of a
parlor border. They prepared their French, drawing, German and literature
for their various masters, and to these occupations Emily added
(19:31):
that of music, in which she was somewhat of a proficient,
so much so as to be qualified to give instruction
in it to the three younger sisters of my informant.
The school was divided into three classes. In the first
were from fifteen to twenty pupils. In the second, sixty
was about the average number all foreigners, excepting the two
(19:53):
Brontes and one other. In the third there were from
twenty to thirty pupils. The first and second classes occupied
a long room divided by a wooden partition. In each
division were four long ranges of desks, and at the
end was the estrade or platform. For the presiding instructor.
On the last row, in the quietest corner, sat Charlotte
(20:16):
and Emily side by side, so deeply absorbed in their
studies as to be insensible to any noise or movement
around them. The school hours were from nine to twelve.
The luncheon hour when the borders and half boarders, perhaps
two and thirty girls went to the refectoire, a room
with two long tables having an oil lamp suspended over each,
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to partake of bread and fruit, the externs or morning pupils,
who had brought their own refreshment with them, adjourning to
eat it in the garden. From one to two there
was fancy work, a pupil reading aloud some late literature
in each room. From two to four lessons.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
Again.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
At four, the externs left and the remaining girls dined
in the Refectois, Monsieur and Madame age presiding. From five
to six there was recreation. From six to seven preparation
for lessons, and after that succeeded the lecture Pius Charlotte's Nightmare.
On rare occasions, Monsieur Aget himself would come in and
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substitute a book of different and more interesting kind. At eight,
there was a slight meal of water and pistolais the
delicious little Brussels rolls, which was immediately followed by prayers
and then to bed. The principal bedroom was over the
long cloths or schoolroom. There were six or eight narrow
beds on each side of the apartment, everyone enveloped in
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its white draping curtain. A long drawer beneath each served
for a wardrobe, and between each was a stand for
eewer basin and looking glass. The beds of the two
miss Bronties were at the extreme end of the room,
almost as private and retired as if they had been
in a separate apartment. During the hours of recreation which
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we always spent in the garden, they invariably walked together
and generally kept a profound silence. Emily, though so much
the taller, leaning on her sister, Charlotte, would always answer
when spoken to, taking the lead in replying to any
remark addressed to both. Emily rarely spoke to anyone. Charlotte's quiet,
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gentle manner never changed. She was never seen out of
temper for a moment, and occasionally, when she herself had
assumed the post of English teacher, and the impertinence or
inattention of her pupils was most irritating. A slight increase
of color, a momentary sparkling of the eye, and more
decided energy of manner were the only outward tokens she
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gave of being conscious of the annoyance to which she
was subjected. But this dignified endurance of hers subdued her
pupils in the long run, far more than the voluble
tirades of the other mistresses. My informant adds the effect
of this manner was singular. I can speak from personal experience.
(23:01):
I was at that time high spirited and impetuous, not
respecting the French mistresses. Yet to my own astonishment, at
one word from her, I was perfectly tractable, and so
much so that at length Monsieur and Madame Iger invariably
preferred all their wishes to me through her. The other
pupils did not perhaps love her as I did. She
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was so quiet and silent, but all respected her, with
the exception of that part which describes Charlotte's manner as
English teacher in office, which she did not assume for
some months later. All this description of the school life
of the two Brontes refers to the commencement of the
new scholastic year in October eighteen forty two, and the
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extracts I have given convey the first impression which the
life at a foreign school and the position of the
two miss Brontess theveryon made upon an intelligent English girl
of sixteen. I will make a quotation from Mary's letter
referring to this time. The first part of her time
(24:05):
at Brussels was not uninteresting. She spoke of new people
and characters, and foreign ways of the pupils and teachers.
She knew the hopes and prospects of the teachers, and
mentioned one who was very anxious to marry. She was
getting so old she used to get her father or
brother I forget which, to be the bearer of letters
to different single men who she thought might be persuaded
(24:27):
to do her the favor, saying that her only resource
was to become a sister of charity if her present
employment failed, and that she hated the idea. Charlotte naturally
looked with curiosity to people of her own condition. This
woman almost frightened her. She declares that there is nothing
she can turn to and laughs at the idea of delicacy.
(24:49):
And she is only ten years older than I am.
I did not see the connection till she said, well, Polly,
I should hate being a sister of charity. I suppose
that would shock some people, but I should I thought
she would have as much feeling as a nurse as
most people, and more than some. She said that she
did not know how people could bear the constant pressure
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of misery and never to change except to a new
form of it. It would be impossible to keep one's
natural feelings. I promised her a better destiny than to
go begging anyone to marry her or to lose her
natural feelings as a sister of charity. She said, my
youth is leaving me. I can never do better than
I have done, and I have done nothing yet. At
(25:33):
such times, she seemed to think that most human beings
were destined by the pressure of worldly interests, to lose
one faculty and feeling after another till they went dead altogether.
I hope I shall be put in my grave as
soon as I am dead. I don't want to walk
about so.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
Here.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
We always differed, I thought, the degradation of nature. She
feared was a consequence of poverty, and that she should
give her attention to earning money. Sometimes she admitted this,
but could find no means of earning money. At others
she seemed afraid of letting her thoughts dwell on the subject,
saying it brought on the worst palsy of all. Indeed,
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in her position, nothing less than entire constant absorption in
petty money matters could have scraped together a provision. Of course,
artists and authors stood high with Charlotte, and the best
thing after their works would have been their company. She
used very inconsistently to rail at money and money getting,
(26:32):
and then wished she was able to visit all the
large towns in Europe, see all the sights, and know
all the celebrities. This was her notion of literary fame,
a passport to the society of clever people. When she
had become acquainted with the people and ways at Brussels,
her life became monotonous, and she fell into the same
hopeless state as at Miss W's, though in a less degree.
(26:56):
I wrote to her, urging her to go home or elsewhere.
She had got what she wanted French, and there was
at least novelty in a new place if no improvement,
that if she sank into deeper gloom, she would soon
not have energy to go. And she was too far
from home for her friends to hear her condition and
order her home, as they had done for Miss W's.
(27:19):
She wrote that I had done her a great service,
and that she should certainly follow my advice, and was
much obliged to me. I have often wondered at this letter.
Though she patiently tolerated advice, she could always quietly put
it aside and do as she thought fit. More than
once afterwards she mentioned the service I had done her.
(27:41):
She sent me ten pounds to New Zealand on hearing
some exaggerated accounts of my circumstances, and told me she
hoped it would come in seasonably. It was a debt
she owed me for the service I had done her.
I should think ten pounds was a quarter of her income.
The service was mentioned as an apostology, but kindness was
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the real motive. The first break in this life of
regular duties and employments came heavily and sadly. Martha, pretty
winning mischievous Tricksome Martha was taken ill. Suddenly at the
Chateau de Kuckelberg. Her sister tended her with devoted love,
(28:22):
but it was all in vain. In a few days
she died. Charlotte's own short account of this event is
as follows. Martha Te's illness was unknown to me till
the day before she died. I hastened to Kuckelberg the
next morning, unconscious that she was in great danger, and
was told that it was finished. She had died in
(28:45):
the night. Mary was taken away to Brussel. I have
seen Mary frequently since. She is in no ways crushed
by the event. But while Martha was ill, she was
to her more than a mother, more than a sister,
watching nursing, cherishing her, so tenderly, so unweariedly. She appears
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calm and serious now, no bursts of violent emotion, no
exaggeration of distress. I have seen Martha's grave, the place
where her ashes lie in a foreign country. Who that
has read Shirley does not remember the few lines perhaps
half a page of sad recollection. He has no idea
(29:28):
that little Jesse will die young. She is so gay
and chattering and arch original even now, passionate when provoked,
but most affectionate if caressed by turns, gentle and rattling,
exacting yet generous, fearless yet reliant on any who will
help her. Jesse, with her little piquant face, engaging prattle
(29:49):
and winning ways, is made to be a pet. Do
you know this place? No, you never saw it. But
you recognize the nature of these trees, this foliage, the cypress,
the willow, the yewe. Stone crosses like these are not
unfamiliar to you, Nor are these dim garlands of everlasting flowers.
(30:13):
Here is the place, green sod and a gray marble headstone.
Jesse sleeps below. She lived through an April day. Much
loved was she much loving? She often, in her brief
life shed tears. She had frequent sorrows. She smiled between
gladdening whatever saw her. Her death was tranquil and happy
(30:38):
in Rose's guardian arms, for Rose had been her stay
and defense through many trials. The dying and the watching
English girls were at that hour alone in a foreign country,
and the soil of that country gave Jesse a grave.
But Jesse, I will write about you no more. This
(31:00):
is an autumn evening, wet and wild. There is only
one cloud in the sky, but it curtains it from
pole to pole. The wind cannot rest, It hurries sobbing
over hills of sullen outline, colorless with twilight and mist.
Rain has beat all day on that church tower, Hawarth.
(31:20):
It rises dark from the stony enclosure of its graveyard.
The nettles, the long grass, and the tombs all drip
with wet. This evening reminds me, too, forcibly, of another
evening some years ago, a howling, rainy autumn evening, too,
when certain who had that day performed a pilgrimage to
a grave new maid in a heretic cemetery, sat near
(31:43):
a wood fire on the hearth of a foreign dwelling.
They were merry and social, but they each knew that
a gap never to be filled had been made in
their circle. They knew they had lost something whose absence
could never be quite atoned for so long as they lived.
And they knew that heavy falling rain was soaking into
(32:04):
the wet earth which covered their lost darling, and that
the sad, sighing gale was mourning above her buried head.
The fire warmed them life and friendship yet blessed them,
But Jessee lay cold coffined solitary, only the sod screening
(32:25):
her from the storm. This was the first death that
had occurred in the small circle of Charlotte's immediate and
intimate friends since the loss of her two sisters long ago.
She was still in the midst of her deep sympathy
with Mary when word came from home that her aunt,
Miss Branwell, was ailing was very ill. Emily and Charlotte
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immediately resolved to go home straight and hastily packed up
for England, doubtful whether they should ever return to Brussels
or not, leaving all their relations with Monsieur and Madame
Eger and the Poncienne uprooted and uncertain of any future existence.
Even before their departure. On the morning after they received
the first intelligence of illness, when they were on the
(33:10):
very point of starting, came a second letter telling them
of their aunt's death. It could not hasten their movements,
for every arrangement had been made for speed. They sailed
from Antwerp. They traveled night and day, and got home
on a Tuesday morning. The funeral and all was over,
and mister Bronte and Anne were sitting together in quiet
(33:31):
grief for the loss of one who had done her
part well in their household for nearly twenty years, and
are in the regard and respect of many who never
knew how much they should miss her till she was gone.
The small property which she had accumulated by dint of
personal frugality and self denial was bequeathed to her nieces Branwell.
(33:52):
Her darling was to have had his share, but his
reckless expenditure had distressed the good old lady, and his
name was omitted in her will. When the first shock
was over, the three sisters began to enjoy the full
relish of meeting again after the longest separation they had
had in their lives. They had much to tell of
the past, and much to settle for the future. Anne
(34:16):
had been for some little time in a situation to
which she was to return at the end of the
Christmas holidays. For another year or so, they were again
to be all three apart, and after that the happy
vision of being together and opening a school was to
be realized. Of course, they did not now look forward
to settling at Burlington or any other place which would
(34:36):
take them away from their father, but the small sum
which they each independently possessed, would enable them to effect
such alterations in the parsonage house at Haworth, as would
adapt it to the reception of pupils. Anne's plans for
the interval were fixed. Emily quickly decided to be the
daughter to remain at home. About Charlotte, there was much
(34:58):
deliberation and some discuss Even in all the haste of
their sudden departure from Brussels, Monsieur Agier had found time
to write a letter of sympathy to mister Bronte on
the loss which he had just sustained, A letter containing
such a graceful appreciation of the daughter's characters under the
form of attribute of respect to their father, that I
(35:20):
should have been tempted to copy it, even if there
had not been a proposal made in that regarding Charlotte,
which deserves a place in the record of her life.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
Au re verand Monsieur Bronte Pasteur evangelique e catre a
catre sam di le Saint Octobre, Monsieur Avenemon Bianreste decide
Mademoiselle vaux fill aroturne brusquement on at Lettaire, Sir de
par Qui nousa flege beaucou as bondon macmpet a probacion
(35:54):
ele bienatrelle kelcherch avau console desculosiel leandevous and seren un
tour de vous, pourmieur vou fera pressier sculaciel vosadone a
squille voulessan care jesper cavum, pardon remasieur, the profited, the
set circumstance, pour vou fer parnier expression de mot respect
(36:20):
genet palloneur the volcanettra personelmo espondent je, prouve poor votre
person and santimore de saint ser veneracion car ju jon
ampire de fami parsees enfant on risk par de trumpe
a sous s rapaul led cacio le, santimonnzavon trouve don
(36:43):
mademoiselle vau fill non pug done in the tresord de
votre merit a de vautres character vous pandres du avec
plasir cavos and fan and f du progra remarcabre dontut
les branche de lan signe moon a coulse progress saint
(37:03):
tierre mon dieu a l ramour travail perce verence nu
navan zubian pera fair avec de paries leve le ra
vancemore a votre bien plau callatre no navent passu al
ra pre le pre du to adelin strixion el zaveta
(37:28):
prix to sola do la maison paternelle and now navanzou
not color feble merit the dirigepo de Fournier and alimo
convna a la luis black activity cavo fillon puis don
vote exemple a don vo lusson peace less lange merite
(37:51):
donald vous enfan vostre de gel consolacion don mal cavosa
flege sela notre espoire a cra poor mademoiselle Charlotte, Emily
induced bell recompense the l traveo mperdono, the shares eleven
(38:14):
de van pavo, cace canuse prove a lavois a du
chakra a de lance jude nuisans flege parsquette, brisque, separacion, vianbrize, lafexion, prisco, paternelle,
canul ravon voue and not rapenne sogmont alla view the
(38:35):
town travel and the Rompeu. The tondo shows bian cammose
a quo DeMont core pour ramone abon fanno chaqune de vau,
Demoiselle ut Anti premuni, contre le de lavenir chaque del
acere a lavois e, la struccio, lacion doncen Mademoiselle Emily
(39:02):
Aletta pand le piano reservoir le lussan du mayor professor
canuse on belgique a deja e labet el meme de
petite leve el per de don Calafo, arrested in nurans
and unrest blue Geno en core, the timidite Mademoiselle Charlotte
(39:23):
come once a dona de luss francis ada carrier, seta curance,
set a plan see neces don lan seignemoon on cornand
totupu a retcheve a piano cheve al cis la voz
convenue of free amademoiselle la fille who du moi allon
(39:47):
dedu in position quillete, donce go a quill louis you done?
Set do sand pondance city fici la trouve poor Jean
person sniper Criela bia monsieur snepasi si parnau in quasion
danterere personnel set in queston dafecsion vuma pardon re si
(40:10):
nou vu parlon de vous enfhan sins occupant le ravenir
come ciel The partis the notra fami le caliatee personnel
le bon vouloir le'rzelle extreme son le sel cos qui nupusa,
no assade de la sorte nusavon monsieur cavu purment sagemon
(40:34):
canue la conte cornce corre pour lavenir in ant repsion
complete don les etud de vaud fill vauteires killed for
fair a vu no pardon re notre francis sivu dagne
considerate colo motif qunu fetagir et tina fecsion biand desandres
(40:55):
equissa flea re bocu devoir dejas resigne annettre plusiti la
vaucher enfant agree reevou primasieur l'xpression respectieurs de maye sintimr
de haute concideracion say egi.
Speaker 1 (41:13):
There was so much truth, as well as so much
kindness in this letter. It was so obvious that a
second year of instruction would be far more valuable than
the first, that there was no long hesitation before it
was decided that Charlotte should return to Brussels. Meanwhile, they
enjoyed their Christmas altogether inexpressibly. Branwell was with them. That
(41:35):
was always a pleasure at this time. Whatever might be
his false or even his vices, his sisters yet held
him up as their family hope, as they trusted that
he would someday be their family pride. They blinded themselves
to the magnitude of the failings of which they were now,
and then told, by persuading themselves that such failings were
common to all men of any strength of character. For
(41:57):
till sad experience taught them better, they fell into the
usual error of confounding strong passions with strong character. Charlotte's
friend came over to see her, and she returned the visit.
Her Brussels life must have seemed like a dream. So
completely in this short space of time did she fall
back into the old household ways, with more of household
(42:20):
independence than she could ever have had during her aunt's lifetime. Winter,
though it was the sisters took their accustomed walks on
the snow covered moors, or went off and down the
long road to Keighley for such books as had been
added to the library there during their absence from England.
End of Section sixteen.
Volume one, section sixteen of the Life of Charlotte Bronte.
This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
visit LibriVox dot org. Recording by Bruce Piri.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Read in French by and by Ruth Golding.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
The Life of Charlotte Bronte by Elizabeth Cleihorne Gascill, Volume one,
section sixteen.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Imitacion le treneer Gisuissan carne portray de Pierre leermit Charlotte Bronte,
de tnsent il pares Laterre, Deison, destinyet Releisanstremont.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Predestinyquos Priscian, the Grand Moreaux u politique, Cells, conquerrent and Alexandre,
Juan Natila Keypus common uragon a purity atmosphere moral come lareale.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Purify at post physique, cell and Revolutionnaire and Comwell U
Robespierre qui FedEx Pierre le visit the Dynasty an enthusiast
ligier camou Pierre Larmitt qui avec les sur l'vier de
(01:32):
la pence, sou lef de nacion, tierre les de racine,
le transplant dont de clema nouveau, purplon lasi avec lesabeiton
de l rope, pierre larmit gentium, the Picardi of France
in uti France poor qua doong natil passe savi come
(01:56):
les gentilleum say contemporani la la a la chas don
s le son san quiet. The Saladin would say, saracens
persiliad certe natur in ardor for your activity and on
(02:16):
table quin permea reste inactive quill force auer i found
excele faculte puissant and dormo saint prette comes arise quill
ratiene pierre sug marche pierre pri la profession des arm
(02:41):
cis on ardet space savigue quip roviance. You know ro boosts,
santelre su et bras militaire, rien de plusson ard rede sell,
the lame sa flame, the pure l selve versill s
(03:06):
reco lag nest de pierre at troubles parpassions rag le
natire puissant sante extreme or two and the connez la
tier der nied don le bian knied don a male
pierre don chercha da boor a videmo la glois kiss
(03:27):
a fletri le pleaser qui trompe ma il fibianto la
de couvert biato persons kill pour suive NetEc uni lusion
a la cal pers a time in u t i
rotrna don iro commersavoyage de la vill ma set four
(03:51):
in les vita lu chemins passire quimen a la pardisson
el prix le chemin etroi quimen a la vi e
piscu the trage at a long a deficile ill jetta
la caskell is armed you solder a severti de la
bis sample do one a la vi militaire six seder
(04:14):
la vi monastic carles extremes touche a shalem sanser la
sand ponti ramen a Louis lari ger de la penitence.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
One Pierre ill.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Ave Louis and prancip ki lampsia rested long inactive skill
soir that borne ill luisizeppa calluis memphu religio calluis memph
You can thank you de la reality to Christianism sik
(04:58):
ilfax got two to le rope catute lasi partagas a
convicio a professor lacroyance de la croix, la piertev eleve
par la jemi nouri parla solitude, finettre un space, dan
spiracio exaltson m espiracio so on arm E lorski quita
(05:25):
sasslul Ropariu don monde il porte con maurice lamprante de
la divinitees your son France A two two raccon louis
la vere tablas a portre de la crois, mame nave
romuele mal nacion de laurent come alor Pierre ramue Les
(05:48):
purpos austere de lxidon ilfa le said elo conce feud uniforce,
prasco miraculos quipuve persuade pace perd de vantre le rouyum.
I found the procure des arm ed solder poor ed
(06:09):
a free a Pierre don la guer sante kill vos
a videl la pisants de pierre netelmo in pisance physique
carla natur who poor dear dieux etemparcial don la distribution
the s do i la cord land sas fan la
(06:32):
grace la baute, the perfectio corparel a lot desprit la
grande moral, Pierre don't get a non petite unphysiognomy per
areab me i laves courage said, constance, set, enthusiasm, set
(06:53):
energy de santimore, qui a cars tut opposition, equila, volunteers
and sir the villa alois the to in the Nacion
poor farmer and Autie day the lan influence caxersas at
home Sieur character shows l d de sant ilfos represente
(07:17):
or millie de larmae de croise don santu bl the prophet,
the guerrier, le pauvre, armit that you do pauvre the
lamb Abbi gree A la plu prison in let antourre,
multitude in multitude qui ne vouac louis tontes qui louis
(07:44):
in a voules says jur leve samb dear geuvois dieux
ales je perdue de view latter dance moment Miss Pauli
gree A poor Luis come le monto de leisure, ill
(08:05):
laenvelope dancepiracio ill Pierre le don lavnier il Vogerusalem delivre
the sin se libre il voi la croiss Jean attache
du tempe e lori flam e, la croi rouge sante
(08:26):
tablast place non Selmont, Pierre rois se merve may in
le fevoi at t cirqui lanours il ravive esperance, courage,
don't do the fatigue prevac la Batti and Sora Livre,
(08:46):
Domin Mela, Victoire and de cid Sir Pierre promi ele
croise cefi as a aparol, come as Israelite Sophie, as
said Moise, it is jesuit.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
As a companion portrait. To this, Emily chose to depict
Harold on the eve of the Battle of Hastings. It
appears to me that her devoir is superior to Charlotte's
in power and in imagination, and fully equal to it
in language. And that this in both cases, considering how
little practical knowledge of French they had when they arrived
at Brussels in February, and that they wrote without the
(09:26):
aid of dictionary or grammar, is unusual and remarkable. We
shall see the progress Charlotte had made in ease and
grace of style a year later. In the choice of
subjects left to her selection. She frequently took characters and
scenes from the Old Testament, with which all her writings
show that she was especially familiar the picturesqueness and color,
(09:50):
if I may so express it. The grandeur and breadth
of its narrations impressed her deeply to use Monsieur Aget's
expression Elee te nourri de le Bible, after he had
read de Lavigne's poem on Joan of Arc. She chose
the vision and death of Moses on Mount Nebo to
write about, and in looking over this devoir, I was
(10:11):
much struck with one or two of Monsieur Age's remarks.
After describing in a quiet and simple manner the circumstances
under which Moses took leave of the Israelites, her imagination
becomes warmed, and she launches out into a noble strain,
depicting the glorious futurity of the Chosen people as looking
(10:31):
down upon the promised land, he sees their prosperity and
prophetic vision. But before reaching the middle of this glowing description,
she interrupts herself to discuss for a moment the doubts
that have been thrown on the miraculous relations in the
Old Testament, Monsieur Ajer remarks, when you are writing, place
your argument first in cool, prosaic language. But when you
(10:54):
have thrown the reins on the neck of your imagination,
do not pull her up to reason gain. In the
vision of Moses, he sees the maidens leading forth their
flocks to the wells at eventide, and they are described
as wearing flowery garlands. Here the writer is reminded of
the necessity of preserving a certain verisimilitude. Moses might, from
(11:17):
his elevation see mountains and plains, groups of maidens, and
herds of cattle, but could hardly perceive the details of
dress or the ornaments of the head. When they had
made further progress, Monsieur Age took up a more advanced plan,
that of synthetical teaching. He would read to them various
accounts of the same person or event, and make them
(11:40):
notice the points of agreement and disagreement where they were different.
He would make them seek the origin of that difference
by causing them to examine well into the character and
position of each separate writer and how they would be
likely to affect his conception of truth. For instance, take Cromwell.
He would read Bossuet's description of him in the Horizont
(12:02):
fiunebre de la rend Angletaire, and show how in this
he was considered entirely from the religious point of view,
as an instrument in the hands of God, preordained to
his work. Then he would make them read Guiseaux and
see how in this view Cromwell was endowed with the
utmost power of free will, but governed by no higher
(12:24):
motive than that of expediency, while Carlyle regarded him as
a character regulated by a strong and conscientious desire to
do the will of the Lord. Then he would desire
them to remember that the royalist and commonwealth men had
each their different opinions of the Great Protector, and from
these conflicting characters he would require them to sift and
(12:46):
collect the elements of truth and try to unite them
into a perfect whole. This kind of exercise delighted Charlotte.
It called into play her powers of analysis, which were extraordinary,
and she very soon excelled in it. Wherever the Brontes
could be national, they were so with the same tenacity
(13:06):
of attachment, which made them suffer as they did whenever
they left Haworth. They were Protestant to the backbone in
other things beside their religion, but pre eminently so in
that touched as Charlotte was by the letter of Saint
Ignatius before alluded to. She claimed equal self devotion and
from as high a motive for some of the missionaries
(13:27):
of the English Church sent out to toil and to
perish on the poisonous African coast, and wrote as an
imitation letter do misionnaire Sierra Leone Afrique. Something of her feeling, too,
appears in the following letter, Brussels, eighteen forty two. I
(13:49):
consider it doubtful whether I shall come home in September
or not. Madame Agier has made a proposal for both
me and Emily to stay another half year, offering to
dismiss her Englishman master and take me as English teacher,
also to employ Emily some part of each day in
teaching music to a certain number of the pupils. For
these services we are to be allowed to continue our
(14:10):
studies in French and German, and to have bored et cetera,
without paying for it. No salaries, however, are offered. Their
proposal is kind, and in a great selfish city like Brussels,
and a great selfish school containing nearly ninety pupils, boarders
and day pupils included, implies a degree of interest which
demands gratitude in return. I am inclined to accept it.
(14:33):
What think you, I don't deny I sometimes wish to
be in England, or that I have brief attacks of homesickness.
But on the whole I have borne a very valiant
heart so far, and I have been happy in Brussels
because I have always been fully occupied with the employments
that I like. Emily is making rapid progress in French,
(14:53):
German music and drawing. Monsieur and Madame Ager begin to
recognize the valuable parts of her care character under her singularities.
If the national character of the Belgians is to be
measured by the character of most of the girls in
this school, it is a character singularly cold, selfish, animal
(15:14):
and inferior. They are very mutinous and difficult for the
teachers to manage, and their principles are rotten to the core.
We avoid them, which is not difficult to do, as
we have the brand of Protestantism and Anglicism upon us.
People talk of the danger which Protestants expose themselves to
in going to reside in Catholic countries and thereby running
(15:36):
the chance of changing their faith. My advice to all
Protestants who are tempted to do anything so be soughted
as to turn Catholics, is to walk over the sea
onto the continent, to attend Mass sedulously for a time,
to note well the mummeries thereof also the idiotic mercenary
aspect of all the priests. And then if they are
(15:58):
still disposed to consider papistry in any other light than
a most feeble, childish piece of humbug, let them turn
Papists at once. That's all. I consider Methodism, Quakerism, and
the extremes of High and Low Churchism foolish, but Roman
Catholicism beats them all. At the same time, allow me
(16:19):
to tell you that there are some Catholics who are
as good as any Christians can be, to whom the
Bible is a sealed book, and much better than many Protestants.
When the Brontes first went to Brussels, it was with
the intention of remaining there for six months, or until
the Grande Vaccans began in September. The duties of the
(16:41):
school were then suspended for six weeks or two months,
and it seemed a desirable period for their return, But
the proposal mentioned in the foregoing letter altered their plans. Besides,
they were happy in the feeling that they were making
progress in all the knowledge they had so long been
yearning to acquire. They were happy too, in possessing friends
whose society had been for years congenial to them, and
(17:04):
in occasional meetings with these they could have the inexpressible
solace to residence in a foreign country, and peculiarly such
to the Brontes, of talking over the intelligence received from
their respective homes, referring to past or planning for future days.
Mary and her sister, the bright, dancing, laughing Martha, were
(17:25):
parlour boarders in an establishment just beyond the barriers of Brussels. Again,
the cousins of these friends were resident in the town,
and at their house Charlotte and Emily were always welcome,
though their overpowering shyness prevented their more valuable qualities from
being known and generally kept them silent. They spent their
(17:45):
weekly holiday with his family for many months, but at
the end of the time Emily was as impenetrable to
friendly advances as at the beginning, while Charlotte was too
physically weak, as Mary has expressed it, to gather up
her forces to express any difference or opposition of opinion,
and had consequently an assenting and deferential manner, strangely at
(18:08):
variance with what they knew of her remarkable talents and
decided character. At this house, the Teas and the Bronts
could look forward to meeting each other pretty frequently. There
was another English family where Charlotte soon became a welcome guest,
and where I suspect she felt herself more at ease
than either at Missus Jenkins or the friends whom I
(18:28):
have first mentioned. An English physician with a large family
of daughters went to reside at Brussels for the sake
of their education. He placed them at Madame Ejet's school
in July eighteen forty two, not a month before the
beginning of the Grand Facance on August fifteenth. In order
to make the most of their time and become accustomed
(18:50):
to the language, these English sisters went daily through the
holidays to the Poncionae in the Rue Deis of Bee.
Six or eight boarders remained besides the misis Sprontes. They
were there during the whole time, never even having the
break to their monotonous life which passing an occasional day
with a friend would have afforded them, but devoting themselves
(19:11):
with indefatigable diligence to the different studies in which they
were engaged. Their position in the school appeared to these
newcomers analogous to what is often called that of a
parlor border. They prepared their French, drawing, German and literature
for their various masters, and to these occupations Emily added
(19:31):
that of music, in which she was somewhat of a proficient,
so much so as to be qualified to give instruction
in it to the three younger sisters of my informant.
The school was divided into three classes. In the first
were from fifteen to twenty pupils. In the second, sixty
was about the average number all foreigners, excepting the two
(19:53):
Brontes and one other. In the third there were from
twenty to thirty pupils. The first and second classes occupied
a long room divided by a wooden partition. In each
division were four long ranges of desks, and at the
end was the estrade or platform. For the presiding instructor.
On the last row, in the quietest corner, sat Charlotte
(20:16):
and Emily side by side, so deeply absorbed in their
studies as to be insensible to any noise or movement
around them. The school hours were from nine to twelve.
The luncheon hour when the borders and half boarders, perhaps
two and thirty girls went to the refectoire, a room
with two long tables having an oil lamp suspended over each,
(20:36):
to partake of bread and fruit, the externs or morning pupils,
who had brought their own refreshment with them, adjourning to
eat it in the garden. From one to two there
was fancy work, a pupil reading aloud some late literature
in each room. From two to four lessons.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
Again.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
At four, the externs left and the remaining girls dined
in the Refectois, Monsieur and Madame age presiding. From five
to six there was recreation. From six to seven preparation
for lessons, and after that succeeded the lecture Pius Charlotte's Nightmare.
On rare occasions, Monsieur Aget himself would come in and
(21:16):
substitute a book of different and more interesting kind. At eight,
there was a slight meal of water and pistolais the
delicious little Brussels rolls, which was immediately followed by prayers
and then to bed. The principal bedroom was over the
long cloths or schoolroom. There were six or eight narrow
beds on each side of the apartment, everyone enveloped in
(21:38):
its white draping curtain. A long drawer beneath each served
for a wardrobe, and between each was a stand for
eewer basin and looking glass. The beds of the two
miss Bronties were at the extreme end of the room,
almost as private and retired as if they had been
in a separate apartment. During the hours of recreation which
(21:59):
we always spent in the garden, they invariably walked together
and generally kept a profound silence. Emily, though so much
the taller, leaning on her sister, Charlotte, would always answer
when spoken to, taking the lead in replying to any
remark addressed to both. Emily rarely spoke to anyone. Charlotte's quiet,
(22:20):
gentle manner never changed. She was never seen out of
temper for a moment, and occasionally, when she herself had
assumed the post of English teacher, and the impertinence or
inattention of her pupils was most irritating. A slight increase
of color, a momentary sparkling of the eye, and more
decided energy of manner were the only outward tokens she
(22:41):
gave of being conscious of the annoyance to which she
was subjected. But this dignified endurance of hers subdued her
pupils in the long run, far more than the voluble
tirades of the other mistresses. My informant adds the effect
of this manner was singular. I can speak from personal experience.
(23:01):
I was at that time high spirited and impetuous, not
respecting the French mistresses. Yet to my own astonishment, at
one word from her, I was perfectly tractable, and so
much so that at length Monsieur and Madame Iger invariably
preferred all their wishes to me through her. The other
pupils did not perhaps love her as I did. She
(23:22):
was so quiet and silent, but all respected her, with
the exception of that part which describes Charlotte's manner as
English teacher in office, which she did not assume for
some months later. All this description of the school life
of the two Brontes refers to the commencement of the
new scholastic year in October eighteen forty two, and the
(23:43):
extracts I have given convey the first impression which the
life at a foreign school and the position of the
two miss Brontess theveryon made upon an intelligent English girl
of sixteen. I will make a quotation from Mary's letter
referring to this time. The first part of her time
(24:05):
at Brussels was not uninteresting. She spoke of new people
and characters, and foreign ways of the pupils and teachers.
She knew the hopes and prospects of the teachers, and
mentioned one who was very anxious to marry. She was
getting so old she used to get her father or
brother I forget which, to be the bearer of letters
to different single men who she thought might be persuaded
(24:27):
to do her the favor, saying that her only resource
was to become a sister of charity if her present
employment failed, and that she hated the idea. Charlotte naturally
looked with curiosity to people of her own condition. This
woman almost frightened her. She declares that there is nothing
she can turn to and laughs at the idea of delicacy.
(24:49):
And she is only ten years older than I am.
I did not see the connection till she said, well, Polly,
I should hate being a sister of charity. I suppose
that would shock some people, but I should I thought
she would have as much feeling as a nurse as
most people, and more than some. She said that she
did not know how people could bear the constant pressure
(25:10):
of misery and never to change except to a new
form of it. It would be impossible to keep one's
natural feelings. I promised her a better destiny than to
go begging anyone to marry her or to lose her
natural feelings as a sister of charity. She said, my
youth is leaving me. I can never do better than
I have done, and I have done nothing yet. At
(25:33):
such times, she seemed to think that most human beings
were destined by the pressure of worldly interests, to lose
one faculty and feeling after another till they went dead altogether.
I hope I shall be put in my grave as
soon as I am dead. I don't want to walk
about so.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
Here.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
We always differed, I thought, the degradation of nature. She
feared was a consequence of poverty, and that she should
give her attention to earning money. Sometimes she admitted this,
but could find no means of earning money. At others
she seemed afraid of letting her thoughts dwell on the subject,
saying it brought on the worst palsy of all. Indeed,
(26:11):
in her position, nothing less than entire constant absorption in
petty money matters could have scraped together a provision. Of course,
artists and authors stood high with Charlotte, and the best
thing after their works would have been their company. She
used very inconsistently to rail at money and money getting,
(26:32):
and then wished she was able to visit all the
large towns in Europe, see all the sights, and know
all the celebrities. This was her notion of literary fame,
a passport to the society of clever people. When she
had become acquainted with the people and ways at Brussels,
her life became monotonous, and she fell into the same
hopeless state as at Miss W's, though in a less degree.
(26:56):
I wrote to her, urging her to go home or elsewhere.
She had got what she wanted French, and there was
at least novelty in a new place if no improvement,
that if she sank into deeper gloom, she would soon
not have energy to go. And she was too far
from home for her friends to hear her condition and
order her home, as they had done for Miss W's.
(27:19):
She wrote that I had done her a great service,
and that she should certainly follow my advice, and was
much obliged to me. I have often wondered at this letter.
Though she patiently tolerated advice, she could always quietly put
it aside and do as she thought fit. More than
once afterwards she mentioned the service I had done her.
(27:41):
She sent me ten pounds to New Zealand on hearing
some exaggerated accounts of my circumstances, and told me she
hoped it would come in seasonably. It was a debt
she owed me for the service I had done her.
I should think ten pounds was a quarter of her income.
The service was mentioned as an apostology, but kindness was
(28:02):
the real motive. The first break in this life of
regular duties and employments came heavily and sadly. Martha, pretty
winning mischievous Tricksome Martha was taken ill. Suddenly at the
Chateau de Kuckelberg. Her sister tended her with devoted love,
(28:22):
but it was all in vain. In a few days
she died. Charlotte's own short account of this event is
as follows. Martha Te's illness was unknown to me till
the day before she died. I hastened to Kuckelberg the
next morning, unconscious that she was in great danger, and
was told that it was finished. She had died in
(28:45):
the night. Mary was taken away to Brussel. I have
seen Mary frequently since. She is in no ways crushed
by the event. But while Martha was ill, she was
to her more than a mother, more than a sister,
watching nursing, cherishing her, so tenderly, so unweariedly. She appears
(29:06):
calm and serious now, no bursts of violent emotion, no
exaggeration of distress. I have seen Martha's grave, the place
where her ashes lie in a foreign country. Who that
has read Shirley does not remember the few lines perhaps
half a page of sad recollection. He has no idea
(29:28):
that little Jesse will die young. She is so gay
and chattering and arch original even now, passionate when provoked,
but most affectionate if caressed by turns, gentle and rattling,
exacting yet generous, fearless yet reliant on any who will
help her. Jesse, with her little piquant face, engaging prattle
(29:49):
and winning ways, is made to be a pet. Do
you know this place? No, you never saw it. But
you recognize the nature of these trees, this foliage, the cypress,
the willow, the yewe. Stone crosses like these are not
unfamiliar to you, Nor are these dim garlands of everlasting flowers.
(30:13):
Here is the place, green sod and a gray marble headstone.
Jesse sleeps below. She lived through an April day. Much
loved was she much loving? She often, in her brief
life shed tears. She had frequent sorrows. She smiled between
gladdening whatever saw her. Her death was tranquil and happy
(30:38):
in Rose's guardian arms, for Rose had been her stay
and defense through many trials. The dying and the watching
English girls were at that hour alone in a foreign country,
and the soil of that country gave Jesse a grave.
But Jesse, I will write about you no more. This
(31:00):
is an autumn evening, wet and wild. There is only
one cloud in the sky, but it curtains it from
pole to pole. The wind cannot rest, It hurries sobbing
over hills of sullen outline, colorless with twilight and mist.
Rain has beat all day on that church tower, Hawarth.
(31:20):
It rises dark from the stony enclosure of its graveyard.
The nettles, the long grass, and the tombs all drip
with wet. This evening reminds me, too, forcibly, of another
evening some years ago, a howling, rainy autumn evening, too,
when certain who had that day performed a pilgrimage to
a grave new maid in a heretic cemetery, sat near
(31:43):
a wood fire on the hearth of a foreign dwelling.
They were merry and social, but they each knew that
a gap never to be filled had been made in
their circle. They knew they had lost something whose absence
could never be quite atoned for so long as they lived.
And they knew that heavy falling rain was soaking into
(32:04):
the wet earth which covered their lost darling, and that
the sad, sighing gale was mourning above her buried head.
The fire warmed them life and friendship yet blessed them,
But Jessee lay cold coffined solitary, only the sod screening
(32:25):
her from the storm. This was the first death that
had occurred in the small circle of Charlotte's immediate and
intimate friends since the loss of her two sisters long ago.
She was still in the midst of her deep sympathy
with Mary when word came from home that her aunt,
Miss Branwell, was ailing was very ill. Emily and Charlotte
(32:49):
immediately resolved to go home straight and hastily packed up
for England, doubtful whether they should ever return to Brussels
or not, leaving all their relations with Monsieur and Madame
Eger and the Poncienne uprooted and uncertain of any future existence.
Even before their departure. On the morning after they received
the first intelligence of illness, when they were on the
(33:10):
very point of starting, came a second letter telling them
of their aunt's death. It could not hasten their movements,
for every arrangement had been made for speed. They sailed
from Antwerp. They traveled night and day, and got home
on a Tuesday morning. The funeral and all was over,
and mister Bronte and Anne were sitting together in quiet
(33:31):
grief for the loss of one who had done her
part well in their household for nearly twenty years, and
are in the regard and respect of many who never
knew how much they should miss her till she was gone.
The small property which she had accumulated by dint of
personal frugality and self denial was bequeathed to her nieces Branwell.
(33:52):
Her darling was to have had his share, but his
reckless expenditure had distressed the good old lady, and his
name was omitted in her will. When the first shock
was over, the three sisters began to enjoy the full
relish of meeting again after the longest separation they had
had in their lives. They had much to tell of
the past, and much to settle for the future. Anne
(34:16):
had been for some little time in a situation to
which she was to return at the end of the
Christmas holidays. For another year or so, they were again
to be all three apart, and after that the happy
vision of being together and opening a school was to
be realized. Of course, they did not now look forward
to settling at Burlington or any other place which would
(34:36):
take them away from their father, but the small sum
which they each independently possessed, would enable them to effect
such alterations in the parsonage house at Haworth, as would
adapt it to the reception of pupils. Anne's plans for
the interval were fixed. Emily quickly decided to be the
daughter to remain at home. About Charlotte, there was much
(34:58):
deliberation and some discuss Even in all the haste of
their sudden departure from Brussels, Monsieur Agier had found time
to write a letter of sympathy to mister Bronte on
the loss which he had just sustained, A letter containing
such a graceful appreciation of the daughter's characters under the
form of attribute of respect to their father, that I
(35:20):
should have been tempted to copy it, even if there
had not been a proposal made in that regarding Charlotte,
which deserves a place in the record of her life.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
Au re verand Monsieur Bronte Pasteur evangelique e catre a
catre sam di le Saint Octobre, Monsieur Avenemon Bianreste decide
Mademoiselle vaux fill aroturne brusquement on at Lettaire, Sir de
par Qui nousa flege beaucou as bondon macmpet a probacion
(35:54):
ele bienatrelle kelcherch avau console desculosiel leandevous and seren un
tour de vous, pourmieur vou fera pressier sculaciel vosadone a
squille voulessan care jesper cavum, pardon remasieur, the profited, the
set circumstance, pour vou fer parnier expression de mot respect
(36:20):
genet palloneur the volcanettra personelmo espondent je, prouve poor votre
person and santimore de saint ser veneracion car ju jon
ampire de fami parsees enfant on risk par de trumpe
a sous s rapaul led cacio le, santimonnzavon trouve don
(36:43):
mademoiselle vau fill non pug done in the tresord de
votre merit a de vautres character vous pandres du avec
plasir cavos and fan and f du progra remarcabre dontut
les branche de lan signe moon a coulse progress saint
(37:03):
tierre mon dieu a l ramour travail perce verence nu
navan zubian pera fair avec de paries leve le ra
vancemore a votre bien plau callatre no navent passu al
ra pre le pre du to adelin strixion el zaveta
(37:28):
prix to sola do la maison paternelle and now navanzou
not color feble merit the dirigepo de Fournier and alimo
convna a la luis black activity cavo fillon puis don
vote exemple a don vo lusson peace less lange merite
(37:51):
donald vous enfan vostre de gel consolacion don mal cavosa
flege sela notre espoire a cra poor mademoiselle Charlotte, Emily
induced bell recompense the l traveo mperdono, the shares eleven
(38:14):
de van pavo, cace canuse prove a lavois a du
chakra a de lance jude nuisans flege parsquette, brisque, separacion, vianbrize, lafexion, prisco, paternelle,
canul ravon voue and not rapenne sogmont alla view the
(38:35):
town travel and the Rompeu. The tondo shows bian cammose
a quo DeMont core pour ramone abon fanno chaqune de vau,
Demoiselle ut Anti premuni, contre le de lavenir chaque del
acere a lavois e, la struccio, lacion doncen Mademoiselle Emily
(39:02):
Aletta pand le piano reservoir le lussan du mayor professor
canuse on belgique a deja e labet el meme de
petite leve el per de don Calafo, arrested in nurans
and unrest blue Geno en core, the timidite Mademoiselle Charlotte
(39:23):
come once a dona de luss francis ada carrier, seta curance,
set a plan see neces don lan seignemoon on cornand
totupu a retcheve a piano cheve al cis la voz
convenue of free amademoiselle la fille who du moi allon
(39:47):
dedu in position quillete, donce go a quill louis you done?
Set do sand pondance city fici la trouve poor Jean
person sniper Criela bia monsieur snepasi si parnau in quasion
danterere personnel set in queston dafecsion vuma pardon re si
(40:10):
nou vu parlon de vous enfhan sins occupant le ravenir
come ciel The partis the notra fami le caliatee personnel
le bon vouloir le'rzelle extreme son le sel cos qui nupusa,
no assade de la sorte nusavon monsieur cavu purment sagemon
(40:34):
canue la conte cornce corre pour lavenir in ant repsion
complete don les etud de vaud fill vauteires killed for
fair a vu no pardon re notre francis sivu dagne
considerate colo motif qunu fetagir et tina fecsion biand desandres
(40:55):
equissa flea re bocu devoir dejas resigne annettre plusiti la
vaucher enfant agree reevou primasieur l'xpression respectieurs de maye sintimr
de haute concideracion say egi.
Speaker 1 (41:13):
There was so much truth, as well as so much
kindness in this letter. It was so obvious that a
second year of instruction would be far more valuable than
the first, that there was no long hesitation before it
was decided that Charlotte should return to Brussels. Meanwhile, they
enjoyed their Christmas altogether inexpressibly. Branwell was with them. That
(41:35):
was always a pleasure at this time. Whatever might be
his false or even his vices, his sisters yet held
him up as their family hope, as they trusted that
he would someday be their family pride. They blinded themselves
to the magnitude of the failings of which they were now,
and then told, by persuading themselves that such failings were
common to all men of any strength of character. For
(41:57):
till sad experience taught them better, they fell into the
usual error of confounding strong passions with strong character. Charlotte's
friend came over to see her, and she returned the visit.
Her Brussels life must have seemed like a dream. So
completely in this short space of time did she fall
back into the old household ways, with more of household
(42:20):
independence than she could ever have had during her aunt's lifetime. Winter,
though it was the sisters took their accustomed walks on
the snow covered moors, or went off and down the
long road to Keighley for such books as had been
added to the library there during their absence from England.
End of Section sixteen.
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