the life of charlotte bronte-1-第23节
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〃Charlotte said she could get on with any one who had a bump at the top of their heads （meaning conscientiousness）。 I found that I seldom differed from her； except that she was far too tolerant of stupid people； if they had a grain of kindness in them。〃
It was about this time that Mr。 Bronte provided his children with a teacher in drawing； who turned out to be a man of considerable talent； but very little principle。 Although they never attained to anything like proficiency； they took great interest in acquiring this art； evidently； from an instinctive desire to express their powerful imaginations in visible forms。 Charlotte told me； that at this period of her life； drawing； and walking out with her sisters； formed the two great pleasures and relaxations of her day。
The three girls used to walk upwards toward the 〃purple…black〃 moors； the sweeping surface of which was broken by here and there a stone…quarry； and if they had strength and time to go far enough； they reached a waterfall； where the beck fell over some rocks into the 〃bottom。〃 They seldom went downwards through the village。 They were shy of meeting even familiar faces； and were scrupulous about entering the house of the very poorest uninvited。 They were steady teachers at the Sunday…School； a habit which Charlotte kept up very faithfully； even after she was left alone； but they never faced their kind voluntary； and always preferred the solitude and freedom of the moors。
In the September of this year； Charlotte went to pay her first visit to her friend 〃E。〃 It took her into the neighbourhood of Roe Head； and brought her into pleasant contact with many of her old school…fellows。 After this visit she and her friend seem to have agreed to correspond in French； for the sake of improvement in the language。 But this improvement could not be great； when it could only amount to a greater familiarity with dictionary words； and when there was no one to explain to them that a verbal translation of English idioms hardly constituted French composition； but the effort was laudable； and of itself shows how willing they both were to carry on the education which they had begun under Miss W…。 I will give an extract which； whatever may be thought of the language； is graphic enough； and presents us with a happy little family picture； the eldest sister returning home to the two younger； after a fortnight's absence。
〃J'arrivait e Haworth en parfaite sauvete sans le moindre accident ou malheur。 Mes petites soeurs couraient hors de la maison pour me rencontrer aussitot que la voiture se fit voir； et elles m'embrassaient avec autant d'empressement et de plaisir comme si j'avais ete absente pour plus d'an。 Mon Papa； ma Tante； et le monsieur dent men frere avoit parle； furent tous assembles dans le Salon； et en peu de temps je m'y rendis aussi。 C'est souvent l'ordre du Ciel que quand on a perdu un plaisir il y en a un autre pret e prendre sa place。 Ainsi je venois de partir de tres…chers amis； mais tout e l'heure je revins e des parens aussi chers et bon dans le moment。 Meme que vous me perdiez （ose…je croire que mon depart vous etait un chagrin？） vous attendites l'arrivee de votre frere； et de votre soeur。 J'ai donne e mes soeurs les pommes que vous leur envoyiez avec tant de bonte； elles disent qu'elles sont sur que Mademoiselle E。 est tres…aimable et bonne； l'une et l'autre sont extremement impatientes de vous voir； j'espere qu'en peu de mois elles auront ce plaisir。〃
But it was some time yet before the friends could meet； and meanwhile they agreed to correspond once a month。 There were no events to chronicle in the Haworth letters。 Quiet days； occupied in reaching； and feminine occupations in the house； did not present much to write about； and Charlotte was naturally driven to criticise books。
Of these there were many in different plights； and according to their plight； kept in different places。 The well…bound were ranged in the sanctuary of Mr。 Bronte's study； but the purchase of books was a necessary luxury to him； but as it was often a choice between binding an old one； or buying a new one； the familiar volume； which had been hungrily read by all the members of the family； was sometimes in such a condition that the bedroom shelf was considered its fitting place。 Up and down the house were to be found many standard works of a solid kind。 Sir Walter Scott's writings； Wordsworth's and Southey's poems were among the lighter literature； while； as having a character of their ownearnest； wild； and occasionally fanaticalmay be named some of the books which came from the Branwell side of the familyfrom the Cornish followers of the saintly John Wesleyand which are touched on in the account of the works to which Caroline Helstone had access in 〃Shirley：〃〃Some venerable Lady's Magazines； that had once performed a voyage with their owner； and undergone a storm〃 （possibly part of the relics of Mrs。 Bronte's possessions； contained in the ship wrecked on the coast of Cornwall）〃and whose pages were stained with salt water； some mad Methodist Magazines full of miracles and apparitions； and preternatural warnings； ominous dreams； and frenzied fanaticisms； and the equally mad letters of Mrs。 Elizabeth Rowe from the Dead to the Living。〃
Mr。 Bronte encouraged a taste for reading in his girls； and though Miss Branwell kept it in due bounds； by the variety of household occupations； in which she expected them not merely to take a part； but to become proficients； thereby occupying regularly a good portion of every day； they were allowed to get books from the circulating library at Keighley； and many a happy walk； up those long four miles； must they have had； burdened with some new book； into which they peeped as they hurried home。 Not that the books were what would generally be called new； in the beginning of 1833； the two friends seem almost simultaneously to have fallen upon 〃Kenilworth；〃 and Charlotte writes as follows about it：…
〃I am glad you like 'Kenilworth；' it is certainly more resembling a romance than a novel： in my opinion； one of the most interesting works that ever emanated from the great Sir Walter's pen。 Varney is certainly the personification of consummate villainy； and in the delineation of his dark and profoundly artful mind； Scott exhibits a wonderful knowledge of human nature； as well as a surprising skill in embodying his perceptions； so as to enable others to become participators in that knowledge。〃
Commonplace as this extract may seem； it is noteworthy on two or three accounts： in the first place； instead of discussing the plot or story； she analyses the character of Varney； and next； she； knowing nothing of the world； both from her youth and her isolated position； has yet been so accustomed to hear 〃human nature〃 distrusted； as to receive the notion of intense and artful villainy without surprise。
What was formal and set in her way of writing to 〃E。〃 diminished as their personal acquaintance increased； and as each came to know the home of the other； so that small details concerning people and places had their interest and their significance。 In the summer of 1833； she wrote to invite her friend to come and pay her a visit。 〃Aunt thought it would be better〃 （she says） 〃to defer it until about the middle of summer； as the winter； and even the spring seasons； are remarkably cold and bleak among our mountains。〃
The first impression made on the visitor by the sisters of her school…friend was； that Emily was a tall； long…armed girl； more fully grown than her elder sister； extremely reserved in manner。 I distinguish reserve from shyness； because I imagine shyness would please； if it knew how； whereas； reserve is indifferent whether it pleases or not。 Anne； like her eldest sister； was shy； Emily was reserved。
Branwell was rather a handsome boy； with 〃tawny〃 hair； to use Miss Bronte's phrase for a more obnoxious colour。 All were very clever； original； and utterly different to any people or family 〃E。〃 had ever seen before。 But； on the whole； it was a happy visit to all parties。 Charlotte says； in writing to 〃E。；〃 just after her return home〃Were I to tell you of the impression you have made on every one here； you would accuse me of flattery。 Papa and aunt are continually adducing you as an example for me to shape my actions and behaviour by。 Emily and Anne say 'they never saw any one they liked so well as you。' And Tabby； whom you have absolutely fascinated； talks a great deal more nonsense about your ladyship than I care to repeat。 It is now so dark that； notwithstanding the singular property of seeing in the night…time； which the young ladies at Roe Head used to attribute to me； I can scribble no longer。〃
To a visitor at the parsonage； it was a great thing to have Tabby's good word。 She had a Yorkshire keenness of perception into character； and it was not everybody she liked。
Haworth is built with an utter disregard of all sanitary conditions： the great old churchyard lies above all the houses； and it is terrible to think how the very water…springs of the pumps below must be poisoned。 But this winter of 1833…4 was particularly wet and rainy； and there were an unusual number of deaths in the village。 A dreary season it was to
