The Life of Charlotte Brontë — Volume 1Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn
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The Life of Charlotte Brontë — Volume 1
Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn
Brontë, Charlotte, 1816-1855; Novelists, English -- 19th century -- Biography
every advantage that shall come within my reach. When the half-year
is expired, I will do what I can.
* * * * *
"Believe me, though I was born in April, the month of cloud and
sunshine, I am not changeful. My spirits are unequal, and sometimes I
speak vehemently, and sometimes I say nothing at all; but I have a
steady regard for you, and if you will let the cloud and shower pass
by, be sure the sun is always behind, obscured, but still existing."
At Christmas she left her situation, after a parting with her employers
which seems to have affected and touched her greatly. "They only made
too much of me," was her remark, after leaving this family; "I did not
deserve it."
* * * * *
All four children hoped to meet together at their father's house this
December. Branwell expected to have a short leave of absence from his
employment as a clerk on the Leeds and Manchester Railway, in which he
had been engaged for five months. Anne arrived before Christmas-day. She
had rendered herself so valuable in her difficult situation, that her
employers vehemently urged her to return, although she had announced her
resolution to leave them; partly on account of the harsh treatment she
had received, and partly because her stay at home, during her sisters'
absence in Belgium, seemed desirable, when the age of the three remaining
inhabitants of the parsonage was taken into consideration.
After some correspondence and much talking over plans at home, it seemed
better, in consequence of letters which they received from Brussels
giving a discouraging account of the schools there, that Charlotte and
Emily should go to an institution at Lille, in the north of France, which
was highly recommended by Baptist Noel, and other clergymen. Indeed, at
the end of January, it was arranged that they were to set off for this
place in three weeks, under the escort of a French lady, then visiting in
London. The terms were 50_l_. each pupil, for board and French alone,
but a separate room was to be allowed for this sum; without this
indulgence, it was lower. Charlotte writes:--
"January 20th, 1842.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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