In a word, she is a married instead of a maiden lady. There are three teachers in the school--Mademoiselle Blanche, Mademoiselle Sophie, and Mademoiselle Marie. The two first have no particular character. One is an old maid, and the other will be one. Mademoiselle Marie is talented and original, but of repulsive and arbitrary manners, which have made the whole school, except myself and Emily, her bitter enemies. No less than seven masters attend, to teach the different branches of education--French, Drawing, Music, Singing, Writing, Arithmetic, and German. All in the house are Catholics except ourselves, one other girl, and the gouvernante of Madame"s children, an Englishwoman, in rank something between a lady"s maid and a nursery governess. The difference in country and religion makes a broad line of demarcation between us and all the rest. We are completely isolated in the midst of numbers. Yet I think I am never unhappy; my present life is so delightful, so congenial to my own nature, compared to that of a governess. My time, constantly occupied, pa.s.ses too rapidly. Hitherto both Emily and I have had good health, and therefore we have been able to work well. There is one individual of whom I have not yet spoken--M. Heger, the husband of Madame. He is professor of rhetoric, a man of power as to mind, but very choleric and irritable in temperament. He is very angry with me just at present, because I have written a translation which he chose to stigmatize as "_peu correct_." He did not tell me so, but wrote the word on the margin of my book, and asked, in brief stern phrase, how it happened that my compositions were always better than my translations?
adding that the thing seemed to him inexplicable. The fact is, some weeks ago, in a high-flown humour, he forbade me to use either dictionary or grammar in translating the most difficult English compositions into French. This makes the task rather arduous, and compels me every now and then to introduce an English word, which nearly plucks the eyes out of his head when he sees it. Emily and he don"t draw well together at all.
Emily works like a horse, and she has had great difficulties to contend with--far greater than I have had. Indeed, those who come to a French school for instruction ought previously to have acquired a considerable knowledge of the French language, otherwise they will lose a great deal of time, for the course of instruction is adapted to natives and not to foreigners; and in these large establishments they will not change their ordinary course for one or two strangers. The few private lessons that M. Heger has vouchsafed to give us, are, I suppose, to be considered a great favour; and I can perceive they have already excited much spite and jealousy in the school.
"You will abuse this letter for being short and dreary, and there are a hundred things which I want to tell you, but I have not time. Brussels is a beautiful city. The Belgians hate the English. Their external morality is more rigid than ours. To lace the stays without a handkerchief on the neck is considered a disgusting piece of indelicacy."
The pa.s.sage in this letter where M. Heger is represented as prohibiting the use of dictionary or grammar, refers, I imagine, to the time I have mentioned, when he determined to adopt a new method of instruction in the French language, of which they were to catch the spirit and rhythm rather from the ear and the heart, as its n.o.blest accents fell upon them, than by over-careful and anxious study of its grammatical rules. It seems to me a daring experiment on the part of their teacher; but, doubtless, he knew his ground; and that it answered is evident in the composition of some of Charlotte"s _devoirs_, written about this time. I am tempted, in ill.u.s.tration of this season of mental culture, to recur to a conversation which I had with M. Heger on the manner in which he formed his pupils"
style, and to give a proof of his success, by copying a _devoir_ of Charlotte"s with his remarks upon it.
He told me that one day this summer (when the Brontes had been for about four months receiving instruction from him) he read to them Victor Hugo"s celebrated portrait of Mirabeau, "mais, dans ma lecon je me bornais a ce qui concerne _Mirabeau orateur_. C"est apres l"a.n.a.lyse de ce morceau, considere surtout du point de vue du fond, de la disposition de ce qu"on pourrait appeler _la charpente_ qu"ont ete faits les deux portraits que je vous donne." He went on to say that he had pointed out to them the fault in Victor Hugo"s style as being exaggeration in conception, and, at the same time, he had made them notice the extreme beauty of his "nuances" of expression. They were then dismissed to choose the subject of a similar kind of portrait. This selection M. Heger always left to them; for "it is necessary," he observed, "before sitting down to write on a subject, to have thoughts and feelings about it. I cannot tell on what subject your heart and mind have been excited. I must leave that to you." The marginal comments, I need hardly say, are M. Heger"s; the words in italics are Charlotte"s, for which he subst.i.tutes a better form of expression, which is placed between brackets. {6}
IMITATION.
"Le 31 Juillet, 1842.
PORTRAIT DE PIERRE L"HERMITE. CHARLOTTE BRONTE
"De temps en temps, il parait sur la terre des hommes destines a etre les instruments [predestines] {Pourquoi cette suppression?} de grands changements moraux ou politiques. Quelquefois c"est un conquerant, un Alexandre ou un Attila, qui pa.s.se comme un ouragan, et purifie l"atmosphere moral, comme l"orage purifie l"atmosphere physique; quelquefois, c"est un revolutionnaire, un Cromwell, ou un Robespierre, qui fait expier par un roi {les fautes et} les vices de toute une dynastie; quelquefois c"est un enthousiaste religieux comme Mahomet, ou Pierre l"Hermite, qui, avec le seul levier de la pensee, souleve des nations entieres, les deracine et les transplante dans des climats nouveaux, _peuplant l"Asie avec les habitants de l"Europe_. Pierre l"Hermite etait gentilhomme de Picardie, en France, {Invtile, quand vous ecrivez er francais} pourquoi donc n"a-t-il pa.s.se sa vie comma les autres gentilhommes, ses contemporains, ont pa.s.se la leur, a table, a la cha.s.se, dans son lit, sans s"inquieter de Saladin, ou de ses Sarrasins? N"est-ce pas, parce qu"il y a dans certaines natures, _une ardour_ [un foyer d"activite] indomptable qui ne leur permet pas de rester inactives, _qui les force a se remuer afin d"exercer les facultes puissantes, qui meme en dormant sont pretes, comme Sampson, a briser les noeuds qui les retiennent_?
{Vous avez commence a parler de Pierre: vous etes entree dans le sujet: marchez au but.}
"Pierre prit la profession des armes; _si son ardeur avait ete de cette espece_ [s"il n"avait eu que cette ardeur vulgaire] qui provient d"une robuste sante, _il aurait_ [c"eut] ete un brave militaire, et rien de plus; mais son ardeur etait celle de l"ame, sa flamme etait pure et elle s"elevait vers le ciel.
"_Sans doute_ [Il est vrai que] la jeunesse de Pierre _etait_ [fet]
troublee par pa.s.sions orageuses; les natures puissantes sont extremes en tout, elles ne connaissent la tiedeur ni dans le bien, ni dans le mal; Pierre donc chercha d"abord avidement la gloire qui se fletrit et les plaisirs qui trompent, mais _il fit bientot la decouverte_ [bientot il s"apercut] que ce qu"il poursuivait n"etait qe"une illusion a laquelle il ne pourrait jamais atteindre; {Vnutile, quand vous avez dit illusion} il retourna donc sur ses pas, il recommenca le voyage de la vie, mais cette fois il evita le chemin s.p.a.cieux qui mene a la perdition et il prit le chemin etroit qui mene a la vie; _puisque_ [comme] le trajet etait long et difficile il jeta la casque et les armes du soldat, et se vet.i.t de l"habit simple du moine. A la vie militaire succeda la vie monastique, car les extremes se touchent, et _chez l"homme sincere_ la sincerite du repentir amene [necessairement a la suite] _avec lui_ la rigueur de la penitence.
[Voila donc Pierre devenu moine!]
"Mais _Pierre_ [il] avait en lui un principe qui l"empechait de rester long-temps inactif, ses idees, sur quel sujet _qu"il soit_ [que ce fut] ne pouvaient pas etre bornees; il ne lui suffisait pas que lui- meme fut religieux, que lui-meme fut convaincu de la realite de Christianisme (sic), il fallait que toute l"Europe, que toute l"Asie, partageat sa conviction et professat la croyance de la Croix. La Piete [fervente] elevee par la Genie, nourrie par la Solitude, _fit naitre une espece d"inspiration_ [exalta son ame jusqu"a l"inspiration] _dans son ame_, et lorsqu"il quitta sa cellule et reparut dans le monde, il portait comme Moise l"empreinte de la Divinite sur son front, et _tout_ [tous] reconnurent en lui la veritable apotre de la Croix.
"Mahomet n"avait jamais remue les molles nations de l"Orient comme alors Pierre remua les peuples austeres de l"Occident; il fallait que cette eloquence fut d"une force presque miraculeuse _qui pouvait_ [presqu"elle] persuad_er_ [ait] aux rois de vendre leurs royaumes _afin de procurer_ [pour avoir] des armes et des soldats _pour aider_ [a offrir] a Pierre dans la guerre sainte qu"il voulait livrer aux infideles. La puissance de Pierre [l"Hermite] n"etait nullement une puissance physique, car la nature, ou pour mieux dire, Dieu est impartial dans la distribution de ses dons; il accorde a l"un de ses enfants la grace, la beaute, les perfections corporelles, a l"autre l"esprit, la grandeur morale. Pierre donc etait un homme pet.i.t, d"une physionomie peu agreable; mais il avait ce courage, cette constance, cet enthousiasme, cette energie de sentiment qui ecrase toute opposition, et qui fait que la volonte d"un seul homme devient la loi de toute une nation. Pour se former une juste idee de l"influence qu"exerca cet homme sur les _caracteres_ [choses] et les idees de son temps, il faut se le representer au milieu de l"armee des croisees dans son double role de prophete et de guerrier; le pauvre hermite, vetu _du pauvre_ [de l"humble] habit gris est la plus puissant qieun roi; il est entoure _d"une_ [de la] mult.i.tude [avide] une mult.i.tude qui ne voit que lui, tandis qui lui, il ne voit que le ciel; ses yeux leves semblent dire, "Je vois Dieu et les anges, et j"ai perdu de vue la terre!"
"_Dans ce moment le_ [mais ce] pauvre _habit_ [froc] gris est pour lui comme le manteau d"Elijah; il l"enveloppe d"inspiration; _il_ [Pierre]
lit dans l"avenir; il voit Jerusalem delivree; [il voit] le saint sepulcre libre; il voit le Croissant argent est arrache du Temple, et l"Oriflamme et la Croix rouge sont etabli a sa place; non-seulement Pierre voit ces merveilles, mais il les fait voir a tous ceux qui l"entourent; il ravive l"esperance et le courage dans [tous ces corps epuises de fatigues et de privations]. La bataille ne sera livree que demain, mais la victoire est decidee ce soir. Pierre a promis; et les Croises se fient a sa parole, comme les Israelites se fiaient a celle de Moise et de Josue."
As a companion portrait to this, Emily chose to depict Harold on the eve of the battle of Hastings. It appears to me that her _devoir_ is superior to Charlotte"s in power and in imagination, and fully equal to it in language; and that this, in both cases, considering how little practical knowledge of French they had when they arrived at Brussels in February, and that they wrote without the aid of dictionary or grammar, is unusual and remarkable. We shall see the progress Charlotte had made, in ease and grace of style, a year later.
In the choice of subjects left to her selection, she frequently took characters and scenes from the Old Testament, with which all her writings show that she was especially familiar. The picturesqueness and colour (if I may so express it), the grandeur and breadth of its narrations, impressed her deeply. To use M. Heger"s expression, "Elle etait nourrie de la Bible." After he had read De la Vigne"s poem on Joan of Arc, she chose the "Vision and Death of Moses on Mount Nebo" to write about; and, in looking over this _devoir_, I was much struck with one or two of M.
Heger"s remarks. After describing, in a quiet and simple manner, the circ.u.mstances under which Moses took leave of the Israelites, her imagination becomes warmed, and she launches out into a n.o.ble strain, depicting the glorious futurity of the Chosen People, as, looking down upon the Promised Land, he sees their prosperity in prophetic vision.
But, before reaching the middle of this glowing description, she interrupts herself to discuss for a moment the doubts that have been thrown on the miraculous relations of the Old Testament. M. Heger remarks, "When you are writing, place your argument first in cool, prosaic language; but when you have thrown the reins on the neck of your imagination, do not pull her up to reason." Again, in the vision of Moses, he sees the maidens leading forth their flocks to the wells at eventide, and they are described as wearing flowery garlands. Here the writer is reminded of the necessity of preserving a certain verisimilitude: Moses might from his elevation see mountains and plains, groups of maidens and herds of cattle, but could hardly perceive the details of dress, or the ornaments of the head.
When they had made further progress, M. Heger took up a more advanced plan, that of synthetical teaching. He would read to them various accounts of the same person or event, and make them notice the points of agreement and disagreement. Where they were different, he would make them seek the origin of that difference by causing them to examine well into the character and position of each separate writer, and how they would be likely to affect his conception of truth. For instance, take Cromwell. He would read Bossuet"s description of him in the "Oraison Funebre de la Reine d"Angleterre," and show how in this he was considered entirely from the religious point of view, as an instrument in the hands of G.o.d, preordained to His work. Then he would make them read Guizot, and see how, in this view, Cromwell was endowed with the utmost power of free-will, but governed by no higher motive than that of expediency; while Carlyle regarded him as a character regulated by a strong and conscientious desire to do the will of the Lord. Then he would desire them to remember that the Royalist and Commonwealth men had each their different opinions of the great Protector. And from these conflicting characters, he would require them to sift and collect the elements of truth, and try to unite them into a perfect whole.
This kind of exercise delighted Charlotte. It called into play her powers of a.n.a.lysis, which were extraordinary, and she very soon excelled in it.
Wherever the Brontes could be national they were so, with the same tenacity of attachment which made them suffer as they did whenever they left Haworth. They were Protestant to the backbone in other things beside their religion, but pre-eminently so in that. Touched as Charlotte was by the letter of St. Ignatius before alluded to, she claimed equal self-devotion, and from as high a motive, for some of the missionaries of the English Church sent out to toil and to perish on the poisonous African coast, and wrote as an "imitation," "Lettre d"un Missionnaire, Sierra Leone, Afrique."
Something of her feeling, too, appears in the following letter:--
"Brussels, 1842.
"I consider it doubtful whether I shall come home in September or not.
Madame Heger has made a proposal for both me and Emily to stay another half-year, offering to dismiss her English master, and take me as English teacher; also to employ Emily some part of each day in teaching music to a certain number of the pupils. For these services we are to be allowed to continue our studies in French and German, and to have board, &c., without paying for it; no salaries, however, are offered. The proposal is kind, and in a great selfish city like Brussels, and a great selfish school, containing nearly ninety pupils (boarders and day pupils included), implies a degree of interest which demands grat.i.tude in return. I am inclined to accept it. What think you? I don"t deny I sometimes wish to be in England, or that I have brief attacks of home sickness; but, on the whole, I have borne a very valiant heart so far; and I have been happy in Brussels, because I have always been fully occupied with the employments that I like.
Emily is making rapid progress in French, German, music, and drawing.
Monsieur and Madame Heger begin to recognise the valuable parts of her character, under her singularities.
"If the national character of the Belgians is to be measured by the character of most of the girls is this school, it in a character singularly cold, selfish, animal, and inferior. They are very mutinous and difficult for the teachers to manage; and their principles are rotten to the core. We avoid them, which it is not difficult to do, as we have the brand of Protestantism and Anglicism upon us. People talk of the danger which Protestants expose themselves to in going to reside in Catholic countries, and thereby running the chance of changing their faith. My advice to all Protestants who are tempted to do anything so besotted as turn Catholics, is, to walk over the sea on to the Continent; to attend ma.s.s sedulously for a time; to note well the mummeries thereof; also the idiotic, mercenary aspect of all the priests; and then, if they are still disposed to consider Papistry in any other light than a most feeble, childish piece of humbug, let them turn Papists at once--that"s all. I consider Methodism, Quakerism, and the extremes of High and Low Churchism foolish, but Roman Catholicism beats them all. At the same time, allow me to tell you, that there are some Catholics who are as good as any Christians can be to whom the Bible is a sealed book, and much better than many Protestants."
When the Brontes first went to Brussels, it was with the intention of remaining there for six months, or until the _grandes vacances_ began in September. The duties of the school were then suspended for six weeks or two months, and it seemed a desirable period for their return. But the proposal mentioned in the foregoing letter altered their plans. Besides, they were happy in the feeling that they were making progress in all the knowledge they had so long been yearning to acquire. They were happy, too, in possessing friends whose society had been for years congenial to them, and in occasional meetings with these, they could have the inexpressible solace to residents in a foreign country--and peculiarly such to the Brontes--of talking over the intelligence received from their respective homes--referring to past, or planning for future days. "Mary"
and her sister, the bright, dancing, laughing Martha, were parlour-boarders in an establishment just beyond the barriers of Brussels. Again, the cousins of these friends were resident in the town; and at their house Charlotte and Emily were always welcome, though their overpowering shyness prevented their more valuable qualities from being known, and generally kept them silent. They spent their weekly holiday with this family, for many months; but at the end of the time, Emily was as impenetrable to friendly advances as at the beginning; while Charlotte was too physically weak (as "Mary" has expressed it) to "gather up her forces" sufficiently to express any difference or opposition of opinion, and had consequently an a.s.senting and deferential manner, strangely at variance with what they knew of her remarkable talents and decided character. At this house, the T."s and the Brontes could look forward to meeting each other pretty frequently. There was another English family where Charlotte soon became a welcome guest, and where, I suspect, she felt herself more at her ease than either at Mrs. Jenkins", or the friends whom I have first mentioned.
An English physician, with a large family of daughters, went to reside at Brussels, for the sake of their education. He placed them at Madame Heger"s school in July, 1842, not a month before the beginning of the _grandes vacances_ on August 15th. In order to make the most of their time, and become accustomed to the language, these English sisters went daily, through the holidays, to the pensionnat in the Rue d"Isabelle. Six or eight boarders remained, besides the Miss Brontes. They were there during the whole time, never even having the break to their monotonous life, which pa.s.sing an occasional day with a friend would have afforded them; but devoting themselves with indefatigable diligence to the different studies in which they were engaged. Their position in the school appeared, to these new comers, a.n.a.logous to what is often called that of a parlour-boarder. They prepared their French, drawing, German, and literature for their various masters; and to these occupations Emily added that of music, in which she was somewhat of a proficient; so much so as to be qualified to give instruction in it to the three younger sisters of my informant.
The school was divided into three cla.s.ses. In the first were from fifteen to twenty pupils; in the second, sixty was about the average number--all foreigners, excepting the two Brontes and one other; in the third, there were from twenty to thirty pupils. The first and second cla.s.ses occupied a long room, divided by a wooden part.i.tion; in each division were four long ranges of desks; and at the end was the _estrade_, or platform, for the presiding instructor. On the last row, in the quietest corner, sat Charlotte and Emily, side by side, so deeply absorbed in their studies as to be insensible to any noise or movement around them. The school-hours were from nine to twelve (the luncheon hour), when the boarders and half-boarders--perhaps two-and-thirty girls--went to the refectoire (a room with two long tables, having an oil- lamp suspended over each), to partake of bread and fruit; the _externes_, or morning pupils, who had brought their own refreshment with them, adjourning to eat it in the garden. From one to two, there was fancy- work--a pupil reading aloud some light literature in each room; from two to four, lessons again. At four, the externes left; and the remaining girls dined in the refectoire, M. and Madame Heger presiding. From five to six there was recreation, from six to seven, preparation for lessons; and, after that succeeded the _lecture pieuse_--Charlotte"s nightmare. On rare occasions, M. Heger himself would come in, and subst.i.tute a book of a different and more interesting kind. At eight, there was a slight meal of water and _pistolets_ (the delicious little Brussels rolls), which was immediately followed by prayers, and then to bed.
The princ.i.p.al bedroom was over the long cla.s.se, or schoolroom. There were six or eight narrow beds on each side of the apartment, every one enveloped in its white draping curtain; a long drawer, beneath each, served for a wardrobe, and between each was a stand for ewer, basin, and looking-gla.s.s. The beds of the two Miss Brontes were at the extreme end of the room, almost as private and retired as if they had been in a separate apartment.
During the hours of recreation, which were always spent in the garden, they invariably walked together, and generally kept a profound silence; Emily, though so much the taller, leaning on her sister. Charlotte would always answer when spoken to, taking the lead in replying to any remark addressed to both; Emily rarely spoke to any one. Charlotte"s quiet, gentle manner never changed. She was never seen out of temper for a moment; and occasionally, when she herself had a.s.sumed the post of English teacher, and the impertinence or inattention of her pupils was most irritating, a slight increase of colour, a momentary sparkling of the eye, and more decided energy of manner, were the only outward tokens she gave of being conscious of the annoyance to which she was subjected.
But this dignified endurance of hers subdued her pupils, in the long run, far more than the voluble tirades of the other mistresses. My informant adds:--"The effect of this manner was singular. I can speak from personal experience. I was at that time high-spirited and impetuous, not respecting the French mistresses; yet, to my own astonishment, at one word from her, I was perfectly tractable; so much so, that at length, M.
and Madame Heger invariably preferred all their wishes to me through her; the other pupils did not, perhaps, love her as I did, she was so quiet and silent; but all respected her."
With the exception of that part which describes Charlotte"s manner as English teacher--an office which she did not a.s.sume for some months later--all this description of the school life of the two Brontes refers to the commencement of the new scholastic year in October 1842; and the extracts I have given convey the first impression which the life at a foreign school, and the position of the two Miss Brontes therein, made upon an intelligent English girl of sixteen. I will make a quotation from "Mary"s" letter referring to this time.
"The first part of her time at Brussels was not uninteresting. She spoke of new people and characters, and foreign ways of the pupils and teachers. She knew the hopes and prospects of the teachers, and mentioned one who was very anxious to marry, "she was getting so old."
She used to get her father or brother (I forget which) to be the bearer of letters to different single men, who she thought might be persuaded to do her the favour, saying that her only resource was to become a sister of charity if her present employment failed and that she hated the idea.
Charlotte naturally looked with curiosity to people of her own condition.
This woman almost frightened her. "She declares there is nothing she can turn to, and laughs at the idea of delicacy,--and she is only ten years older than I am!" I did not see the connection till she said, "Well, Polly, I should hate being a sister of charity; I suppose that would shock some people, but I should." I thought she would have as much feeling as a nurse as most people, and more than some. She said she did not know how people could bear the constant pressure of misery, and never to change except to a new form of it. It would be impossible to keep one"s natural feelings. I promised her a better destiny than to go begging any one to marry her, or to lose her natural feelings as a sister of charity. She said, "My youth is leaving me; I can never do better than I have done, and I have done nothing yet." At such times she seemed to think that most human beings were destined by the pressure of worldly interests to lose one faculty and feeling after another "till they went dead altogether. I hope I shall be put in my grave as soon as I"m dead; I don"t want to walk about so." Here we always differed. I thought the degradation of nature she feared was a consequence of poverty, and that she should give her attention to earning money. Sometimes she admitted this, but could find no means of earning money. At others she seemed afraid of letting her thoughts dwell on the subject, saying it brought on the worst palsy of all. Indeed, in her position, nothing less than entire constant absorption in petty money matters could have sc.r.a.ped together a provision.
"Of course artists and authors stood high with Charlotte, and the best thing after their works would have been their company. She used very inconsistently to rail at money and money-getting, and then wish she was able to visit all the large towns in Europe, see all the sights and know all the celebrities. This was her notion of literary fame,--a pa.s.sport to the society of clever people . . . When she had become acquainted with the people and ways at Brussels her life became monotonous, and she fell into the same hopeless state as at Miss W---"s, though in a less degree.
I wrote to her, urging her to go home or elsewhere; she had got what she wanted (French), and there was at least novelty in a new place, if no improvement. That if she sank into deeper gloom she would soon not have energy to go, and she was too far from home for her friends to hear of her condition and order her home as they had done from Miss W---"s. She wrote that I had done her a great service, that she should certainly follow my advice, and was much obliged to me. I have often wondered at this letter. Though she patiently tolerated advice, she could always quietly put it aside, and do as she thought fit. More than once afterwards she mentioned the "service" I had done her. She sent me 10_l_. to New Zealand, on hearing some exaggerated accounts of my circ.u.mstances, and told me she hoped it would come in seasonably; it was a debt she owed me "for the service I had done her." I should think 10_l_. was a quarter of her income. The "service" was mentioned as an apology, but kindness was the real motive."
The first break in this life of regular duties and employments came heavily and sadly. Martha--pretty, winning, mischievous, tricksome Martha--was taken ill suddenly at the Chateau de Koekelberg. Her sister tended her with devoted love; but it was all in vain; in a few days she died. Charlotte"s own short account of this event is as follows:--
"Martha T."s illness was unknown to me till the day before she died. I hastened to Koekelberg the next morning--unconscious that she was in great danger--and was told that it was finished. She had died in the night. Mary was taken away to Bruxelles. I have seen Mary frequently since. She is in no ways crushed by the event; but while Martha was ill, she was to her more than a mother--more than a sister: watching, nursing, cherishing her so tenderly, so unweariedly. She appears calm and serious now; no bursts of violent emotion; no exaggeration of distress. I have seen Martha"s grave--the place where her ashes lie in a foreign country."
Who that has read "Shirley" does not remember the few lines--perhaps half a page--of sad recollection?
"He has no idea that little Jessy will die young, she is so gay, and chattering, and arch--original even now; pa.s.sionate when provoked, but most affectionate if caressed; by turns gentle and rattling; exacting yet generous; fearless . . . yet reliant on any who will help her.
Jessy, with her little piquant face, engaging prattle, and winning ways, is made to be a pet.
"Do you know this place? No, you never saw it; but you recognise the nature of these trees, this foliage--the cypress, the willow, the yew.
Stone crosses like these are not unfamiliar to you, nor are these dim garlands of everlasting flowers. Here is the place: green sod and a grey marble head-stone--Jessy sleeps below. She lived through an April day; much loved was she, much loving. She often, in her brief life, shed tears--she had frequent sorrows; she smiled between, gladdening whatever saw her. Her death was tranquil and happy in Rose"s guardian arms, for Rose had been her stay and defence through many trials; the dying and the watching English girls were at that hour alone in a foreign country, and the soil of that country gave Jessy a grave.
"But, Jessy, I will write about you no more. This is an autumn evening, wet and wild. There is only one cloud in the sky; but it curtains it from pole to pole. The wind cannot rest; it hurries sobbing over hills of sullen outline, colourless with twilight and mist. Rain has beat all day on that church tower" (Haworth): "it rises dark from the stony enclosure of its graveyard: the nettles, the long gra.s.s, and the tombs all drip with wet. This evening reminds me too forcibly of another evening some years ago: a howling, rainy autumn evening too--when certain who had that day performed a pilgrimage to a grave new made in a heretic cemetery, sat near a wood fire on the hearth of a foreign dwelling. They were merry and social, but they each knew that a gap, never to be filled, had been made in their circle. They knew they had lost something whose absence could never be quite atoned for, so long as they lived; and they knew that heavy falling rain was soaking into the wet earth which covered their lost darling; and that the sad, sighing gale was mourning above her buried head. The fire warmed them; Life and Friendship yet blessed them: but Jessy lay cold, coffined, solitary--only the sod screening her from the storm."