The Life of Charlotte Brontë — Volume 2Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn
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The Life of Charlotte Brontë — Volume 2
Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn
Brontë, Charlotte, 1816-1855; Novelists, English -- 19th century -- Biography
very comfortably, when the door opened and Mr. Brontë looked in; seeing
his daughter there, I suppose he thought it was all right, and he
retreated to his study on the opposite side of the passage; presently
emerging again to bring W---- a country newspaper. This was his last
appearance till we went. Miss Brontë spoke with the greatest warmth of
Miss Martineau, and of the good she had gained from her. Well! we talked
about various things; the character of the people,--about her solitude,
etc., till she left the room to help about dinner, I suppose, for she
did not return for an age. The old dog had vanished; a fat curly-haired
dog honoured us with his company for some time, but finally manifested a
wish to get out, so we were left alone. At last she returned, followed
by the maid and dinner, which made us all more comfortable; and we had
some very pleasant conversation, in the midst of which time passed
quicker than we supposed, for at last W---- found that it was half-past
three, and we had fourteen or fifteen miles before us. So we hurried
off, having obtained from her a promise to pay us a visit in the spring;
and the old gentleman having issued once more from his study to say
good-bye, we returned to the inn, and made the best of our way homewards.
"Miss Brontë put me so in mind of her own 'Jane Eyre.' She looked
smaller than ever, and moved about so quietly, and noiselessly, just
like a little bird, as Rochester called her, barring that all birds are
joyous, and that joy can never have entered that house since it was
first built; and yet, perhaps, when that old man married, and took home
his bride, and children's voices and feet were heard about the house,
even that desolate crowded grave-yard and biting blast could not quench
cheerfulness and hope. Now there is something touching in the sight of
that little creature entombed in such a place, and moving about herself
like a spirit, especially when you think that the slight still frame
encloses a force of strong fiery life, which nothing has been able to
freeze or extinguish."
In one of the preceding letters, Miss Brontë referred to am article in
the Palladium, which had rendered what she considered the due meed of
merit to "Wuthering Heights", her sister Emily's tale. Her own works
were praised, and praised with discrimination, and she was grateful for
this. But her warm heart was filled to the brim with kindly feelings
towards him who had done justice to the dead. She anxiously sought out
the name of the writer; and having discovered that it was Mr. Sydney
Dobell he immediately became one of her
"Peculiar people whom Death had made dear."
She looked with interest upon everything he wrote; and before long we
shall find that they corresponded.
To W. S. WILLIAMS, ESQ.
"Oct. 25th.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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