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
The reader will remember that Anne Brontë had been interred in the
churchyard of the Old Church at Scarborough. Charlotte had left
directions for a tombstone to be placed over her; but many a time during
the solitude of the past winter, her sad, anxious thoughts had revisited
the scene of that last great sorrow, and she had wondered whether all
decent services had been rendered to the memory of the dead, until at
last she came to a silent resolution to go and see for herself whether
the stone and inscription were in a satisfactory state of preservation.
"Cliffe House, Filey, June 6th, 1852.
"Dear E----, --I am at Filey utterly alone. Do not be angry, the step
is right. I considered it, and resolved on it with due deliberation.
Change of air was necessary; there were reasons why I should NOT go to
the south, and why I should come here. On Friday I went to Scarborough,
visited the churchyard and stone. It must be refaced and relettered;
there are five errors. I gave the necessary directions. THAT duty, then,
is done; long has it lain heavy on my mind; and that was a pilgrimage I
felt I could only make alone.
"I am in our old lodgings at Mrs. Smith's; not, however, in the same
rooms, but in less expensive apartments. They seemed glad to see me,
remembered you and me very well, and, seemingly, with great good will.
The daughter who used to wait on us is just married. Filey seems to me
much altered; more lodging-houses--some of them very handsome--have been
built; the sea has all its old grandeur. I walk on the sands a good
deal, and try NOT to feel desolate and melancholy. How sorely my heart
longs for you, I need not say. I have bathed once; it seemed to do me
good. I may, perhaps, stay here a fortnight. There are as yet scarcely
any visitors. A Lady Wenlock is staying at the large house of which
you used so vigilantly to observe the inmates. One day I set out with
intent to trudge to Filey Bridge, but was frightened back by two cows.
I mean to try again some morning. I left papa well. I have been a good
deal troubled with headache, and with some pain in the side since I came
here, but I feel that this has been owing to the cold wind, for very
cold has it been till lately; at present I feel better. Shall I send
the papers to you as usual. Write again directly, and tell me this, and
anything and everything else that comes into your mind.--Believe me,
yours faithfully,
"C. BRONTË."
"Filey, June 16th, 1852.
"Dear E----, --Be quite easy about me. I really think I am better for my
stay at Filey; that I have derived more benefit from it than I dared to
anticipate. I believe, could I stay here two months, and enjoy something
like social cheerfulness as well as exercise and good air, my health
would be quite renewed. This, however, cannot possibly be; but I am most
thankful for the good received. I stay here another week.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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