Branwell's Letter to Wordsworth, with Stanzas--Remarks upon it--No Reply--He Tries Again--His Interest in the Manchester and Leeds Railway--Branwell's Literary and Artistic Friends at Bradford and Halifax--Leyland's Works there--Branwell's great Interest in them--Early Verses--Mrs. Gaskell's Judgment on his Literary Abilities 193 CHAPTER XIV. The Poetical bent of Branwell's Genius--'Caroline's Prayer'--'On Caroline'--'Caroline'--Spirit of these Early Effusions 210 CHAPTER XV. Charlotte's first Offer of Marriage--Her Remarks concerning it --A second Offer Declined--Anne a Governess--She Moralizes upon it--Charlotte obtains a Situation--Unsuited to Her--She Leaves it--Branwell takes Pleasure in Scenery--He Visits Liverpool with his Friends--Charlotte goes to Easton--Curates at Haworth--Their Visits to the Parsonage--Public Meetings on Church Rates-- Charlotte's Attempt at a Richardsonian Novel--She sends the Commencement of it to Wordsworth for his Opinion--Branwell receives an Appointment as Private Tutor 228 CHAPTER XVI. The District of Black Comb--Branwell's Sonnet--Wordsworth and Hartley Coleridge--Branwell's Letter to the 'Old Knave of Trumps'--Its Publication by Miss Robinson in her 'Emily Brontë'--Branwell's familiar Acquaintance with the People of Haworth--He could Paint their Characters with Accuracy--His Knowledge of the Human Passions--Emily's Isolation 249 CHAPTER XVII. Branwell's Appointment at Ulverston ends--He gets a Situation on the Railroad at Sowerby Bridge--Branwell at Luddenden Foot-- His Friends' Reminiscences of him--Charlotte and Emily reading French Novels--Charlotte obtains a Situation--Anxious about Anne--School Project of the Sisters--Charlotte's keen Desire to visit Brussels--Her Letter to her Aunt Branwell 264 CHAPTER XVIII. Situation of Luddenden Foot--Branwell visits Manchester--The Sultry Summer--He visits the Picturesque Places adjacent--His impromptu Verses to Mr. Grundy--He leaves the Railway Company --Miss Robinson's unjust Comments--His three Sonnets--His poem, 'The Afghan War'--Branwell's letter to Mr. Grundy--His Self-depreciation 287 THE BRONTË FAMILY. CHAPTER I. EARLY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE BRONTËS. Brontë Genius--Patrick Brontë--His Birthplace--His early Endeavours--Ordained--Presented to Hartshead--High Town--His Courtship and Marriage--Removes to Thornton--His House--Thornton Chapel--Mrs. Brontë's failing Health--Mr. Brontë Accepts the Living of Haworth--Rudeness of the Inhabitants--Local Fights between Haworth and Heptonstall--Description of Haworth--Mrs. Brontë dies.