the life of charlotte bronte-1-第14节
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which some of their simple revelations would have in altering the opinions entertained by their friends of the persons placed around them。 Besides； Charlotte's earnest vigorous mind saw； at an unusually early age； the immense importance of education； as furnishing her with tools which she had the strength and the will to wield； and she would be aware that the Cowan Bridge education was； in many points； the best that her father could provide for her。
Before Maria Bronte's death； that low fever broke out； in the spring of 1825； which is spoken of in 〃Jane Eyre。〃 Mr。 Wilson was extremely alarmed at the first symptoms of this。 He went to a kind motherly woman； who had had some connection with the school as laundress； I believeand asked her to come and tell him what was the matter with them。 She made herself ready； and drove with him in his gig。 When she entered the school…room； she saw from twelve to fifteen girls lying about； some resting their aching heads on the table； others on the ground； all heavy…eyed； flushed； indifferent； and weary； with pains in every limb。 Some peculiar odour； she says； made her recognise that they were sickening for 〃the fever；〃 and she told Mr。 Wilson so； and that she could not stay there for fear of conveying the infection to her own children； but he half commanded； and half entreated her to remain and nurse them； and finally mounted his gig and drove away； while she was still urging that she must return to her own house； and to her domestic duties； for which she had provided no substitute。 However； when she was left in this unceremonious manner； she determined to make the best of it； and a most efficient nurse she proved： although； as she says； it was a dreary time。
Mr。 Wilson supplied everything ordered by the doctors； of the best quality and in the most liberal manner； the invalids were attended by Dr。 Batty； a very clever surgeon in Kirby； who had had the medical superintendence of the establishment from the beginning； and who afterwards became Mr。 Wilson's brother…in…law。 I have heard from two witnesses besides Charlotte Bronte； that Dr。 Batty condemned the preparation of the food by the expressive action of spitting out a portion of it。 He himself； it is but fair to say； does not remember this circumstance； nor does he speak of the fever itself as either alarming or dangerous。 About forty of the girls suffered from this； but none of them died at Cowan Bridge； though one died at her own home； sinking under the state of health which followed it。 None of the Brontes had the fever。 But the same causes； which affected the health of the other pupils through typhus； told more slowly； but not less surely； upon their constitutions。 The principal of these causes was the food。
The bad management of the cook was chiefly to be blamed for this； she was dismissed； and the woman who had been forced against her will to serve as head nurse； took the place of housekeeper； and henceforward the food was so well prepared that no one could ever reasonably complain of it。 Of course it cannot be expected that a new institution； comprising domestic and educational arrangements for nearly a hundred persons； should work quite smoothly at the beginning。
All this occurred during the first two years of the establishment； and in estimating its effect upon the character of Charlotte Bronte； we must remember that she was a sensitive thoughtful child； capable of reflecting deeply； if not of analyzing truly； and peculiarly susceptible； as are all delicate and sickly children； to painful impressions。 What the healthy suffer from but momentarily and then forget； those who are ailing brood over involuntarily and remember long；perhaps with no resentment； but simply as a piece of suffering that has been stamped into their very life。 The pictures； ideas； and conceptions of character received into the mind of the child of eight years old； were destined to be reproduced in fiery words a quarter of a century afterwards。 She saw but one side of Mr。 Wilson's character； and many of those who knew him at that time assure me of the fidelity with which this is represented； while at the same time they regret that the delineation should have obliterated； as it were； nearly all that was noble or conscientious。 And that there were grand and fine qualities in Mr。 Wilson； I have received abundant evidence。 Indeed for several weeks past I have received letters almost daily； bearing on the subject of this chapter； some vague； some definite； many full of love and admiration for Mr。 Wilson； some as full of dislike and indignation； few containing positive facts。 After giving careful consideration to this mass of conflicting evidence； I have made such alterations and omissions in this chapter as seem to me to be required。 It is but just to state that the major part of the testimony with which I have been favoured from old pupils is in high praise of Mr。 Wilson。 Among the letters that I have read； there is one whose evidence ought to be highly respected。 It is from the husband of 〃Miss Temple。〃 She died in 1856； but he； a clergyman； thus wrote in reply to a letter addressed to him on the subject by one of Mr。 Wilson's friends：… 〃Often have I heard my late dear wife speak of her sojourn at Cowan Bridge； always in terms of admiration of Mr。 Carus Wilson； his parental love to his pupils； and their love for him； of the food and general treatment； in terms of approval。 I have heard her allude to an unfortunate cook； who used at times to spoil the porridge； but who； she said； was soon dismissed。〃
The recollections left of the four Bronte sisters at this period of their lives； on the minds of those who associated with them； are not very distinct。 Wild； strong hearts； and powerful minds； were hidden under an enforced propriety and regularity of demeanour and expression； just as their faces had been concealed by their father； under his stiff； unchanging mask。 Maria was delicate； unusually clever and thoughtful for her age； gentle； and untidy。 Of her frequent disgrace from this last faultof her sufferings； so patiently borneI have already spoken。 The only glimpse we get of Elizabeth； through the few years of her short life； is contained in a letter which I have received from 〃Miss Temple。〃 〃The second； Elizabeth； is the only one of the family of whom I have a vivid recollection； from her meeting with a somewhat alarming accident； in consequence of which I had her for some days and nights in my bedroom； not only for the sake of greater quiet； but that I might watch over her myself。 Her head was severely cut； but she bore all the consequent suffering with exemplary patience； and by it won much upon my esteem。 Of the two younger ones （if two there were） I have very slight recollections； save that one； a darling child； under five years of age； was quite the pet nursling of the school。〃 This last would be Emily。 Charlotte was considered the most talkative of the sistersa 〃bright； clever； little child。〃 Her great friend was a certain 〃Mellany Hane〃 （so Mr。 Bronte spells the name）； whose brother paid for her schooling； and who had no remarkable talent except for music； which her brother's circumstances forbade her to cultivate。 She was 〃a hungry； good…natured； ordinary girl；〃 older than Charlotte； and ever ready to protect her from any petty tyranny or encroachments on the part of the elder girls。 Charlotte always remembered her with affection and gratitude。
I have quoted the word 〃bright〃 in the account of Charlotte。 I suspect that this year of 1825 was the last time it could ever be applied to her。 In the spring of it； Maria became so rapidly worse that Mr。 Bronte was sent for。 He had not previously been aware of her illness； and the condition in which he found her was a terrible shock to him。 He took her home by the Leeds coach； the girls crowding out into the road to follow her with their eyes over the bridge； past the cottages； and then out of sight for ever。 She died a very few days after her arrival at home。 Perhaps the news of her death falling suddenly into the life of which her patient existence had formed a part； only a little week or so before； made those who remained at Cowan Bridge look with more anxiety on Elizabeth's symptoms； which also turned out to be consumptive。 She was sent home in charge of a confidential servant of the establishment； and she； too； died in the early summer of that year。 Charlotte was thus suddenly called into the responsibilities of eldest sister in a motherless family。 She remembered how anxiously her dear sister Maria had striven； in her grave earnest way； to be a tender helper and a counsellor to them all； and the duties that now fell upon her seemed almost like a legacy from the gentle little sufferer so lately dead。
Both Charlotte and Emily returned to school after the Midsummer holidays in this fatal year。 But before the next winter it was thought desirable to advise their removal； as it was evident that the damp situation of the house at Cowan Bridge did not suit their health。 ｛3｝
CHAPTER V
For the reason just stated； the little girls were sent home in the autumn of 1825； when Charlotte was little more than nine years old。
About this time； an elderly woman
