the life of charlotte bronte-1-第30章

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d　reading　them　by　stealth　with　the　most　exquisite　pleasure。　　You　give　a　correct　description　of　the　patient　Grisels　of　those　days。　My　aunt　was　one　of　them；　and　to　this　day　she　thinks　the　tales　of　the　'Ladies'　Magazine'　infinitely　superior　to　any　trash　of　modern　literature。　　So　do　I；　for　I　read　them　in　childhood；　and　childhood　has　a　very　strong　faculty　of　admiration；　but　a　very　weak　one　of　criticism　。　。　。　I　am　pleased　that　you　cannot　quite　decide　whether　I　am　an　attorney's　clerk　or　a　novel…reading　dress…maker。　　I　will　not　help　you　at　all　in　the　discovery；　and　as　to　my　handwriting；　or　the　lady…like　touches　in　my　style　and　imagery；　you　must　not　draw　any　conclusion　from　thatI　may　employ　an　amanuensis。　　Seriously；　sir；　I　am　very　much　obliged　to　you　for　your　kind　and　candid　letter。　　I　almost　wonder　you　took　the　trouble　to　read　and　notice　the　novelette　of　an　anonymous　scribe；　who　had　not　even　the　manners　to　tell　you　whether　he　was　a　man　or　a　woman；　or　whether　his　'C。　T。'　meant　Charles　Timms　or　Charlotte　Tomkins。〃


There　are　two　or　three　things　noticeable　in　the　letter　from　which　these　extracts　are　taken。　　The　first　is　the　initials　with　which　she　had　evidently　signed　the　former　one　to　which　she　alludes。　About　this　time；　to　her　more　familiar　correspondents；　she　occasionally　calls　herself　〃Charles　Thunder；〃　making　a　kind　of　pseudonym　for　herself　out　of　her　Christian　name；　and　the　meaning　of　her　Greek　surname。　　In　the　next　place；　there　is　a　touch　of　assumed　smartness；　very　different　from　the　simple；　womanly；　dignified　letter　which　she　had　written　to　Southey；　under　nearly　similar　circumstances；　three　years　before。　　I　imagine　the　cause　of　this　difference　to　be　twofold。　　Southey；　in　his　reply　to　her　first　letter；　had　appealed　to　the　higher　parts　of　her　nature；　in　calling　her　to　consider　whether　literature　was；　or　was　not；　the　best　course　for　a　woman　to　pursue。　　But　the　person　to　whom　she　addressed　this　one　had　evidently　confined　himself　to　purely　literary　criticisms；　besides　which；　her　sense　of　humour　was　tickled　by　the　perplexity　which　her　correspondent　felt　as　to　whether　he　was　addressing　a　man　or　a　woman。　　She　rather　wished　to　encourage　the　former　idea；　and；　in　consequence；　possibly；　assumed　something　of　the　flippancy　which　very　probably　existed　in　her　brother's　style　of　conversation；　from　whom　she　would　derive　her　notions　of　young　manhood；　not　likely；　as　far　as　refinement　was　concerned；　to　be　improved　by　the　other　specimens　she　had　seen；　such　as　the　curates　whom　she　afterwards　represented　in　〃Shirley。〃

These　curates　were　full　of　strong；　High…Church　feeling。　Belligerent　by　nature；　it　was　well　for　their　professional　character　that　they　had；　as　clergymen；　sufficient　scope　for　the　exercise　of　their　warlike　propensities。　　Mr。　Bronte；　with　all　his　warm　regard　for　Church　and　State；　had　a　great　respect　for　mental　freedom；　and；　though　he　was　the　last　man　in　the　world　to　conceal　his　opinions；　he　lived　in　perfect　amity　with　all　the　respectable　part　of　those　who　differed　from　him。　　Not　so　the　curates。　　Dissent　was　schism；　and　schism　was　condemned　in　the　Bible。　　In　default　of　turbaned　Saracens；　they　entered　on　a　crusade　against　Methodists　in　broadcloth；　and　the　consequence　was　that　the　Methodists　and　Baptists　refused　to　pay　the　church…rates。　　Miss　Bronte　thus　describes　the　state　of　things　at　this　time：…


〃Little　Haworth　has　been　all　in　a　bustle　about　church…rates；　since　you　were　here。　　We　had　a　stirring　meeting　in　the　schoolroom。　　Papa　took　the　chair；　and　Mr。　C。　and　Mr。　W。　acted　as　his　supporters；　one　on　each　side。　　There　was　violent　opposition；　which　set　Mr。　C。's　Irish　blood　in　a　ferment；　and　if　papa　had　not　kept　him　quiet；　partly　by　persuasion　and　partly　by　compulsion；　he　would　have　given　the　Dissenters　their　kale　through　the　reeka　Scotch　proverb；　which　I　will　explain　to　you　another　time。　　He　and　Mr。　W。　both　bottled　up　their　wrath　for　that　time；　but　it　was　only　to　explode　with　redoubled　force　at　a　future　period。　　We　had　two　sermons　on　dissent；　and　its　consequences；　preached　last　Sundayone　in　the　afternoon　by　Mr。　W。；　and　one　in　the　evening　by　Mr。　C。　　All　the　Dissenters　were　invited　to　come　and　hear；　and　they　actually　shut　up　their　chapels；　and　came　in　a　body；　of　course　the　church　was　crowded。　　Mr。　W。　delivered　a　noble；　eloquent；　High…Church；　Apostolical…Succession　discourse；　in　which　he　banged　the　Dissenters　most　fearlessly　and　unflinchingly。　　I　thought　they　had　got　enough　for　one　while；　but　it　was　nothing　to　the　dose　that　was　thrust　down　their　throats　in　the　evening。　　A　keener；　cleverer；　bolder；　and　more　heart…stirring　harangue　than　that　which　Mr。　C。　delivered　from　Haworth　pulpit；　last　Sunday　evening；　I　never　heard。　He　did　not　rant；　he　did　not　cant；　he　did　not　whine；　he　did　not　sniggle；　he　just　got　up　and　spoke　with　the　boldness　of　a　man　who　was　impressed　with　the　truth　of　what　he　was　saying；　who　has　no　fear　of　his　enemies；　and　no　dread　of　consequences。　　His　sermon　lasted　an　hour；　yet　I　was　sorry　when　it　was　done。　　I　do　not　say　that　I　agree　either　with　him；　or　with　Mr。　W。；　either　in　all　or　in　half　their　opinions。　　I　consider　them　bigoted；　intolerant；　and　wholly　unjustifiable　on　the　ground　of　common　sense。　　My　conscience　will　not　let　me　be　either　a　Puseyite　or　a　Hookist；　MAIS；　if　I　were　a　Dissenter；　I　would　have　taken　the　first　opportunity　of　kicking；　or　of　horse…whipping　both　the　gentlemen　for　their　stern；　bitter　attack　on　my　religion　and　its　teachers。　　But　in　spite　of　all　this；　I　admired　the　noble　integrity　which　could　dictate　so　fearless　an　opposition　against　so　strong　an　antagonist。

〃P。S。Mr。　W。　has　given　another　lecture　at　the　Keighley　Mechanics'　Institution；　and　papa　has　also　given　a　lecture；　both　are　spoken　of　very　highly　in　the　newspapers；　and　it　is　mentioned　as　a　matter　of　wonder　that　such　displays　of　intellect　should　emanate　from　the　village　of　Haworth；　'situated　among　the　bogs　and　mountains；　and；　until　very　lately；　supposed　to　be　in　a　state　of　semi…barbarism。'　Such　are　the　words　of　the　newspaper。〃


To　fill　up　the　account　of　this　outwardly　eventless　year；　I　may　add　a　few　more　extracts　from　the　letters　entrusted　to　me。


〃May　15th；　1840。

〃Do　not　be　over…persuaded　to　marry　a　man　you　can　never　respectI　do　not　say　LOVE；　because；　I　think；　if　you　can　respect　a　person　before　marriage；　moderate　love　at　least　will　come　after；　and　as　to　intense　PASSION；　I　am　convinced　that　that　is　no　desirable　feeling。　In　the　first　place；　it　seldom　or　never　meets　with　a　requital；　and；　in　the　second　place；　if　it　did；　the　feeling　would　be　only　temporary：　　it　would　last　the　honeymoon；　and　then；　perhaps；　give　place　to　disgust；　or　indifference；　worse；　perhaps；　than　disgust。　Certainly　this　would　be　the　case　on　the　man's　part；　and　on　the　woman'sGod　help　her；　if　she　is　left　to　love　passionately　and　alone。

〃I　am　tolerably　well　convinced　that　I　shall　never　marry　at　all。　Reason　tells　me　so；　and　I　am　not　so　utterly　the　slave　of　feeling　but　that　I　can　OCCASIONALLY　HEAR　her　voice。〃

〃June　2nd；　1840。

〃M。　is　not　yet　come　to　Haworth；　but　she　is　to　come　on　the　condition　that　I　first　go　and　stay　a　few　days　there。　　If　all　be　well；　I　shall　go　next　Wednesday。　　I　may　stay　at　G…　until　Friday　or　Saturday；　and　the　early　part　of　the　following　week　I　shall　pass　with　you；　if　you　will　have　mewhich　last　sentence　indeed　is　nonsense；　for　as　I　shall　be　glad　to　see　you；　so　I　know　you　will　be　glad　to　see　me。　　This　arrangement　will　not　allow　much　time；　but　it　is　the　only　practicable　one　which；　considering　all　the　circumstances；　I　can　effect。　　Do　not　urge　me　to　stay　more　than　two　or　three　days；　because　I　shall　be　obliged　to　refuse　you。　　I　intend　to　walk　to　Keighley；　there　to　take　the　coach　as　far　as　B…；　then　to　get　some　one　to　carry　my　box；　and　to　walk　the　rest　of　the　way　to　G…。　　If　I　manage　this；　I　think　I　shall　contrive　very　well。　　I　shall　reach　B。　by　about　five　o'clock；　and　then　I　shall　have　the　cool　of　the　evening　for　the　walk。　　I　have　communicated　the　whole　arrangement　to　M。　　I　desire　exceedingly　to　see　both　her　and　you。　Good…bye。

C。　B。　C。　B。　C。　B。　C。　B。

〃If　you　have　any　better　plan　to　suggest　I　am　open　to　conviction；　provided　your　plan　is　practicable。〃

〃August　20th；　1840。

〃Have　you　seen　anything　of　Miss　H。　lately？　　I　wish　they；　or　somebody　else；　would　get　me　a　situation。　　I　have　answered　advertisements　without　number；　but　my　applications　have　met　with　no　success。

〃I　have　got　another　bale　of　French　books　from　G。　containing　upwards　of　forty　volumes。　　I　have　read　about　half。　　They　are　like　the　rest；　clever；　wicked；　sophistical；　and　immoral。　　The　best　of　it　is；　they　give　one　a　thorough　idea　of　France　and　Paris；　and　are　the　best　substitute　for　French　conversation　that　I　have　met　with。

〃I　positively　have　nothing　more　to　say　to　you；　for　I　am　in　a　stupid　humour。　　You　must　excuse　this　letter　not　being　quite　as　long　as　your　own。　　I　have　written　to　you　soon；　that　you　might　not　look　after　the　postman　in　vain。　　Preserve　this　writing　as　a　curiosity　in　caligraphyI　think　it　is　exquisiteall　brilliant　black　blots；　and　utterly　illegible　letters。　　〃CALIBAN。〃


〃'The　wind　bloweth　where　it　listeth。　　Thou　hearest　the　sound　thereof；　but　canst　not　tell　whence　it　cometh；　nor　whither　it　goeth。'　　That；　I　believe；　is　Scripture；　though　in　what　chapter　or　book；　or　whether　it　be　correctly　quoted；　I　can't　possibly　say。　However；　it　behoves　me　to　write　a　letter　to　a　young　woman　of　the　name　of　E。；　with　whom　I　was　once　acquainted；　'in　life's　morning　march；　when　my　spirit　was　young。'　　This　young　woman　wished　me　to　write　to　her　some　time　since；　though　I　have　nothing　to　sayI　e'en　put　it　off；　day　by　day；　till　at　last；　fearing　that　she　will　'curse　me　by　her　gods；'　I　feel　constrained　to　sit　down　and　tack　a　few　lines　together；　which　she　may　call　a　letter　or　not　as　she　pleases。　Now　if　the　young　woman　expects　sense　in　this　production；　she　will　find　herself　miserably　disappointed。　　I　shall　dress　her　a　dish　of　salmagundiI　shall　cook　a　hashcompound　a　stewtoss　up　an　OMELETTE　SOUFFLEE　E　LA　FRANCAISE；　and　send　it　her　with　my　respects。　　The　wind；　which　is　very　high　up　in　our　hills　of　Judea；　though；　I　suppose；　down　in　the　Philistine　flats　of　B。　parish　it　is　nothing　to　speak　of；　has　produced　the　same　effects　on　the　contents　of　my　knowledge…box　that　a　quaigh　of　usquebaugh　does　upon　those　of　most　other　bipeds。　　I　see　everything　COULEUR　DE　ROSE；　and　am　strongly　inclined　to　dance　a　jig；　if　I　knew　how。　　I　think　I　must　partake　of　the　nature　of　a　pig　or　an　assboth　which　animals　are　strongly　affected　by　a　high　wind。　　From　what　quarter　the　wind　blows　I　cannot　tell；　for　I　never　could　in　my　life；　but　I　should　very　much　like　to　know　how　the　great　brewing…tub　of　Bridlington　Bay　works；　and　what　sort　of　yeasty　froth　rises　just　now　on　the　waves。

〃A　woman　of　the　name　of　Mrs。　B。；　it　seems；　wants　a　teacher。　　I　wish　she　would　have　me；　and　I　have　written　to　Miss　W。　to　tell　her　so。　　Verily；　it　is　a　delightful　thing　to　live　here　at　home；　at　full　liberty　to　do　just　what　one　pleases。　　But　I　recollect　some　scrubby　old　fable　about　grasshoppers　and　ants；　by　a　scrubby　old　knave　yclept　AEsop；　the　grasshoppers　sang　all　the　summer；　and　starved　all　the　winter。

〃A　distant　relation　of　mine；　one　Patrick　Branwell；　has　set　off　to　seek　his　fortune　in　the　wild；　wandering；　adventurous；　romantic；　knight…errant…like　capacity　of　clerk　on　the　Leeds　and　Manch