'A calm and even mind like yours cannot conceive the feelings of the shattered wretch who is now writing to you, when, after weeks of mental and bodily anguish not to be described, something like peace began to dawn again. Mary is far from well. She breathes short, has a pain in her chest, and frequent flushings of fever. I cannot tell you what agony these symptoms give me; they remind me so strongly of my two sisters, whom no power of medicine could save. Martha is now very well; she has kept in a continual flow of good humour during her stay here, and has consequently been very fascinating.... 'They are making such a noise about me, I cannot write any more. Mary is playing on the piano; Martha is chattering as fast as her little tongue can run; and Branwell is standing before her, laughing at her vivacity.' Branwell, in these days, was well enough, and could be lively enough, when occasion served. He had his hopes, his enthusiasm yet: but, in after-years, he was to fall into a yet deeper and more serious depression than that through which Charlotte had passed. CHAPTER X. BRANWELL BRONTË AND HIS SISTERS' BIOGRAPHERS. The Light in which Biographers have regarded Branwell--Bibliography --Mrs. Gaskell--The Causes which led her into Error--Resentment of Branwell's Friends--Mr. George Searle Phillips--Branwell as Depicted by Mr. T. Wemyss Reid--Mr. F. H. Grundy's Notice of Branwell--Miss A. Mary F. Robinson's Portrait of Branwell.