the life of charlotte bronte-1-第51部分

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nk　that　even　the　very　best　lines　will　continue　for　many　years　at　their　present　premiums；　and　I　have　been　most　anxious　for　us　to　sell　our　shares　ere　it　be　too　late；　and　to　secure　the　proceeds　in　some　safer；　if；　for　the　present；　less　profitable　investment。　　I　cannot；　however；　persuade　my　sisters　to　regard　the　affair　precisely　from　my　point　of　view；　and　I　feel　as　if　I　would　rather　run　the　risk　of　loss　than　hurt　Emily's　feelings　by　acting　in　direct　opposition　to　her　opinion。　She　managed　in　a　most　handsome　and　able　manner　for　me；　when　I　was　in　Brussels；　and　prevented　by　distance　from　looking　after　my　own　interests；　therefore；　I　will　let　her　manage　still；　and　take　the　consequences。　　Disinterested　and　energetic　she　certainly　is；　and　if　she　be　not　quite　so　tractable　or　open　to　conviction　as　I　could　wish；　I　must　remember　perfection　is　not　the　lot　of　humanity；　and　as　long　as　we　can　regard　those　we　love；　and　to　whom　we　are　closely　allied；　with　profound　and　never…shaken　esteem；　it　is　a　small　thing　that　they　should　vex　us　occasionally　by　what　appear　to　us　unreasonable　and　headstrong　notions。

〃You；　my　dear　Miss　W…；　know；　full　as　well　as　I　do；　the　value　of　sisters'　affection　to　each　other；　there　is　nothing　like　it　in　this　world；　I　believe；　when　they　are　nearly　equal　in　age；　and　similar　in　education；　tastes；　and　sentiments。　　You　ask　about　Branwell；　he　never　thinks　of　seeking　employment；　and　I　begin　to　fear　that　he　has　rendered　himself　incapable　of　filling　any　respectable　station　in　life；　besides；　if　money　were　at　his　disposal；　he　would　use　it　only　to　his　own　injury；　the　faculty　of　self…government　is；　I　fear；　almost　destroyed　in　him。　　You　ask　me　if　I　do　not　think　that　men　are　strange　beings？　　I　do；　indeed。　　I　have　often　thought　so；　and　I　think；　too；　that　the　mode　of　bringing　them　up　is　strange：　　they　are　not　sufficiently　guarded　from　temptation。　　Girls　are　protected　as　if　they　were　something　very　frail　or　silly　indeed；　while　boys　are　turned　loose　on　the　world；　as　if　they；　of　all　beings　in　existence；　were　the　wisest　and　least　liable　to　be　led　astray。　　I　am　glad　you　like　Broomsgrove；　though；　I　dare　say；　there　are　few　places　you　would　NOT　like；　with　Mrs。　M。　for　a　companion。　　I　always　feel　a　peculiar　satisfaction　when　I　hear　of　your　enjoying　yourself；　because　it　proves　that　there　really　is　such　a　thing　as　retributive　justice　even　in　this　world。　　You　worked　hard；　you　denied　yourself　all　pleasure；　almost　all　relaxation；　in　your　youth；　and　in　the　prime　of　life；　now　you　are　free；　and　that　while　you　have　still；　I　hope；　many　years　of　vigour　and　health　in　which　you　can　enjoy　freedom。　　Besides；　I　have　another　and　very　egotistical　motive　for　being　pleased；　it　seems　that　even　'a　lone　woman'　can　be　happy；　as　well　as　cherished　wives　and　proud　mothers。　I　am　glad　of　that。　　I　speculate　much　on　the　existence　of　unmarried　and　never…to…be…married　women　now…a…days；　and　I　have　already　got　to　the　point　of　considering　that　there　is　no　more　respectable　character　on　this　earth　than　an　unmarried　woman；　who　makes　her　own　way　through　life　quietly；　perseveringly；　without　support　of　husband　or　brother；　and　who；　having　attained　the　age　of　forty…five　or　upwards；　retains　in　her　possession　a　well…regulated　mind；　a　disposition　to　enjoy　simple　pleasures；　and　fortitude　to　support　inevitably　pains；　sympathy　with　the　sufferings　of　others；　and　willingness　to　relieve　want　as　far　as　her　means　extend。〃


During　the　time　that　the　negotiation　with　Messrs。　Aylott　and　Co。　was　going　on；　Charlotte　went　to　visit　her　old　school…friend；　with　whom　she　was　in　such　habits　of　confidential　intimacy；　but　neither　then　nor　afterwards；　did　she　ever　speak　to　her　of　the　publication　of　the　poems；　nevertheless；　this　young　lady　suspected　that　the　sisters　wrote　for　Magazines；　and　in　this　idea　she　was　confirmed　when；　on　one　of　her　visits　to　Haworth；　she　saw　Anne　with　a　number　of　〃Chambers's　Journal；〃　and　a　gentle　smile　of　pleasure　stealing　over　her　placid　face　as　she　read。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　asked　the　friend。　　〃Why　do　you　smile？〃

〃Only　because　I　see　they　have　inserted　one　of　my　poems；〃　was　the　quiet　reply；　and　not　a　word　more　was　said　on　the　subject。

To　this　friend　Charlotte　addressed　the　following　letters：…

〃March　3rd；　1846。

〃I　reached　home　a　little　after　two　o'clock；　all　safe　and　right　yesterday；　I　found　papa　very　well；　his　sight　much　the　same。　　Emily　and　Anne　were　going　to　Keighley　to　meet　me；　unfortunately；　I　had　returned　by　the　old　road；　while　they　were　gone　by　the　new；　and　we　missed　each　other。　　They　did　not　get　home　till　half…past　four；　and　were　caught　in　the　heavy　shower　of　rain　which　fell　in　the　afternoon。　　I　am　sorry　to　say　Anne　has　taken　a　little　cold　in　consequence；　but　I　hope　she　will　soon　be　well。　　Papa　was　much　cheered　by　my　report　of　Mr。　C。's　opinion；　and　of　old　Mrs。　E。's　experience；　but　I　could　perceive　he　caught　gladly　at　the　idea　of　deferring　the　operation　a　few　months　longer。　　I　went　into　the　room　where　Branwell　was；　to　speak　to　him；　about　an　hour　after　I　got　home：　　it　was　very　forced　work　to　address　him。　　I　might　have　spared　myself　the　trouble；　as　he　took　no　notice；　and　made　no　reply；　he　was　stupified。　　My　fears　were　not　in　vain。　　I　hear　that　he　got　a　sovereign　while　I　have　been　away；　under　pretence　of　paying　a　pressing　debt；　he　went　immediately　and　changed　it　at　a　public…house；　and　has　employed　it　as　was　to　be　expected。　　concluded　her　account　by　saying　he　was　a　'hopeless　being；'　it　is　too　true。　　In　his　present　state　it　is　scarcely　possible　to　stay　in　the　room　where　he　is。　　What　the　future　has　in　store　I　do　not　know。〃

〃March　31st；　1846。

〃Our　poor　old　servant　Tabby　had　a　sort　of　fit；　a　fortnight　since；　but　is　nearly　recovered　now。　　Martha〃　（the　girl　they　had　to　assist　poor　old　Tabby；　and　who　remains　still　the　faithful　servant　at　the　parsonage；）　〃is　ill　with　a　swelling　in　her　knee；　and　obliged　to　go　home。　　I　fear　it　will　be　long　before　she　is　in　working　condition　again。　　I　received　the　number　of　the　'Record'　you　sent　。　。　。　I　read　D'Aubigne's　letter。　　It　is　clever；　and　in　what　he　says　about　Catholicism　very　good。　　The　Evangelical　Alliance　part　is　not　very　practicable；　yet　certainly　it　is　more　in　accordance　with　the　spirit　of　the　Gospel　to　preach　unity　among　Christians　than　to　inculcate　mutual　intolerance　and　hatred。　　I　am　very　glad　I　went　towhen　I　did；　for　the　changed　weather　has　somewhat　changed　my　health　and　strength　since。　　How　do　you　get　on？　　I　long　for　mild　south　and　west　winds。　　I　am　thankful　papa　continues　pretty　well；　though　often　made　very　miserable　by　Branwell's　wretched　conduct。　THEREthere　is　no　change　but　for　the　worse。〃


Meanwhile　the　printing　of　the　volume　of　poems　was　quietly　proceeding。　　After　some　consultation　and　deliberation；　the　sisters　had　determined　to　correct　the　proofs　themselves；　Up　to　March　28th　the　publishers　had　addressed　their　correspondent　as　C。　Bronte；　Esq。；　but　at　this　time　some　〃little　mistake　occurred；〃　and　she　desired　Messrs。　Aylott　and　Co。　in　future　to　direct　to　her　real　address；　〃MISS　Bronte；〃　&c。　　She　had；　however；　evidently　left　it　to　be　implied　that　she　was　not　acting　on　her　own　behalf；　but　as　agent　for　the　real　authors；　since　in　a　note　dated　April　6th；　she　makes　a　proposal　on　behalf　of　〃C。；　E。；　and　A。　Bell；〃　which　is　to　the　following　effect；　that　they　are　preparing　for　the　press　a　work　of　fiction；　consisting　of　three　distinct　and　unconnected　tales；　which　may　be　published　either　together；　as　a　work　of　three　volumes；　of　the　ordinary　novel　size；　or　separately；　as　single　volumes；　as　may　be　deemed　most　advisable。　　She　states；　in　addition；　that　it　is　not　their　intention　to　publish　these　tales　on　their　own　account；　but　that　the　authors　direct　her　to　ask　Messrs。　Aylott　and　Co。　whether　they　would　be　disposed　to　undertake　the　work；　after　having；　of　course；　by　due　inspection　of　the　MS。；　ascertained　that　its　contents　are　such　as　to　warrant　an　expectation　of　success。　　To　this　letter　of　inquiry　the　publishers　replied　speedily；　and　the　tenor　of　their　answer　may　be　gathered　from　Charlotte's；　dated　April　11th。


〃I　beg　to　thank　you；　in　the　name　of　C。；　E。；　and　A。　Bell；　for　your　obliging　offer　of　advice。　　I　will　avail　myself　of　it；　to　request　information　on　two　or　three　points。　　It　is　evident　that　unknown　authors　have　great　difficulties　to　contend　with；　before　they　can　succeed　in　bringing　their　works　before　the　public。　　Can　you　give　me　any　hint　as　to　the　way　in　which　these　difficulties　are　best　met？　　For　instance；　in　the　present　case；　where　a　work　of　fiction　is　in　question；　in　what　form　would　a　publisher　be　most　likely　to　accept　the　MS。？　　Whether　offered　as　a　work　of　three　vols。；　or　as　tales　which　might　be　published　in　numbers；　or　as　contributions　to　a　periodical？

〃What　publishers　would　be　most　likely　to　receive　favourably　a　proposal　of　this　nature？

〃Would　it　suffice　to　WRITE　to　a　publisher　on　the　subject；　or　would　it　be　necessary　to　have　recourse　to　a　personal　interview？

〃Your　opinion　and　advice　on　these　three　points；　or　on　any　other　which　your　experience　may　suggest　as　important；　would　be　esteemed　by　us　as　a　favour。〃


It　is　evident　from　the　whole　tenor　of　this　correspondence；　that　the　truthfulness　and　probity　of　the　firm　of　publishers　with　whom　she　had　to　deal　in　this　her　first　literary　venture；　were　strongly　impressed　upon　her　mind；　and　was　followed　by　the　inevitable　consequence　of　reliance　on　their　suggestions。　　And　the　progress　of　the　poems　was　not　unreasonably　lengthy　or　long　drawn　out。　　On　April　20th　she　writes　to　desire　that　three　copies　may　be　sent　to　her；　and　that　Messrs。　Aylott　will　advise　her　as　to　the　reviewers　to　whom　copies　ought　to　be　sent。

I　give　the　next　letter　as　illustrating　the　ideas　of　these　girls　as　to　what　periodical　reviews　or　notices　led　public　opinion。

〃The　poems　to　be　neatly　done　up　in　cloth。　　Have　the　goodness　to　send　copies　and　advertisements；　AS　EARLY　AS　POSSIBLE；　to　each　of　the　undermentioned　periodicals。

〃'Colburn's　New　Monthly　Magazine。'

〃'Bentley's　Magazine。'

〃'Hood's　Magazine。'

〃'Jerrold's　Shilling　Magazine。'

〃'Blackwood's　Magazine。'

〃'The　Edinburgh　Review。'

〃'Tait's　Edinburgh　Magazine。'

〃'The　Dublin　University　Magazine。'

〃Also　to　the　'Daily　News'　and　to　the　'Britannia'　papers。

〃If　there　are　any　other　periodicals　to　which　you　have　been　in　the　habit　of　sending　copies　of