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till her nose nearly touched it； and when she was told to hold her head up； up went the book after it； still close to her nose； so that it was not possible to help laughing。〃
This was the first impression she made upon one of those whose dear and valued friend she was to become in after…life。 Another of the girls recalls her first sight of Charlotte； on the day she came； standing by the schoolroom window； looking out on the snowy landscape； and crying； while all the rest were at play。 〃E。〃 was younger than she； and her tender heart was touched by the apparently desolate condition in which she found the oddly… dressed； odd…looking little girl that winter morning； as 〃sick for home she stood in tears；〃 in a new strange place； among new strange people。 Any over…demonstrative kindness would have scared the wild little maiden from Haworth； but 〃E。〃 （who is shadowed forth in the Caroline Helstone of 〃Shirley〃） managed to win confidence； and was allowed to give sympathy。
To quote again from 〃Mary's〃 letter：…
〃We thought her very ignorant； for she had never learnt grammar at all； and very little geography。〃
This account of her partial ignorance is confirmed by her other school…fellows。 But Miss W… was a lady of remarkable intelligence and of delicate tender sympathy。 She gave a proof of this in her first treatment of Charlotte。 The little girl was well…read； but not well…grounded。 Miss W… took her aside and told her she was afraid that she must place her in the second class for some time till she could overtake the girls of her own age in the knowledge of grammar； &c。； but poor Charlotte received this announcement with so sad a fit of crying； that Miss W…'s kind heart was softened； and she wisely perceived that； with such a girl； it would be better to place her in the first class； and allow her to make up by private study in those branches where she was deficient。
〃She would confound us by knowing things that were out of our range altogether。 She was acquainted with most of the short pieces of poetry that we had to learn by heart； would tell us the authors； the poems they were taken from； and sometimes repeat a page or two； and tell us the plot。 She had a habit of writing in italics （printing characters）； and said she had learnt it by writing in their magazine。 They brought out a 'magazine' once a month； and wished it to look as like print as possible。 She told us a tale out of it。 No one wrote in it； and no one read it； but herself； her brother； and two sisters。 She promised to show me some of these magazines； but retracted it afterwards； and would never be persuaded to do so。 In our play hours she sate； or stood still； with a book； if possible。 Some of us once urged her to be on our side in a game at ball。 She said she had never played； and could not play。 We made her try； but soon found that she could not see the ball； so we put her out。 She took all our proceedings with pliable indifference； and always seemed to need a previous resolution to say 'No' to anything。 She used to go and stand under the trees in the play…ground； and say it was pleasanter。 She endeavoured to explain this； pointing out the shadows； the peeps of sky； &c。 We understood but little of it。 She said that at Cowan Bridge she used to stand in the burn； on a stone； to watch the water flow by。 I told her she should have gone fishing； she said she never wanted。 She always showed physical feebleness in everything。 She ate no animal food at school。 It was about this time I told her she was very ugly。 Some years afterwards； I told her I thought I had been very impertinent。 She replied； 'You did me a great deal of good； Polly； so don't repent of it。' She used to draw much better； and more quickly； than anything we had seen before； and knew much about celebrated pictures and painters。 Whenever an opportunity offered of examining a picture or cut of any kind； she went over it piecemeal； with her eyes close to the paper； looking so long that we used to ask her 'what she saw in it。' She could always see plenty； and explained it very well。 She made poetry and drawing at least exceedingly interesting to me； and then I got the habit； which I have yet； of referring mentally to her opinion on all matters of that kind； along with many more； resolving to describe such and such things to her； until I start at the recollection that I never shall。〃
To feel the full force of this last sentenceto show how steady and vivid was the impression which Miss Bronte made on those fitted to appreciate herI must mention that the writer of this letter； dated January 18th； 1856； in which she thus speaks of constantly referring to Charlotte's opinion has never seen her for eleven years； nearly all of which have been passed among strange scenes； in a new continent； at the antipodes。
〃We used to be furious politicians； as one could hardly help being in 1832。 She knew the names of the two ministries； the one that resigned； and the one that succeeded and passed the Reform Bill。 She worshipped the Duke of Wellington； but said that Sir Robert Peel was not to be trusted； he did not act from principle like the rest； but from expediency。 I； being of the furious radical party； told her 'how could any of them trust one another； they were all of them rascals！' Then she would launch out into praises of the Duke of Wellington； referring to his actions； which I could not contradict； as I knew nothing about him。 She said she had taken interest in politics ever since she was five years old。 She did not get her opinions from her fatherthat is； not directlybut from the papers； &c。； he preferred。〃
In illustration of the truth of this； I may give an extract from a letter to her brother； written from Roe Head； May 17th； 1832：… 〃Lately I had begun to think that I had lost all the interest which I used formerly to take in politics； but the extreme pleasure I felt at the news of the Reform Bill's being thrown out by the House of Lords； and of the expulsion； or resignation of Earl Grey； &c。； convinced me that I have not as yet lost all my penchant for politics。 I am extremely glad that aunt has consented to take in 'Fraser's Magazine；' for； though I know from your description of its general contents it will be rather uninteresting when compared with 'Blackwood；' still it will be better than remaining the whole year without being able to obtain a sight of any periodical whatever； and such would assuredly be our case； as； in the little wild moorland village where we reside； there would be no possibility of borrowing a work of that description from a circulating library。 I hope with you that the present delightful weather may contribute to the perfect restoration of our dear papa's health； and that it may give aunt pleasant reminiscences of the salubrious climate of her native place；〃 &c。
To return to 〃Mary's〃 letter。
〃She used to speak of her two elder sisters； Maria and Elizabeth； who died at Cowan Bridge。 I used to believe them to have been wonders of talent and kindness。 She told me； early one morning； that she had just been dreaming； she had been told that she was wanted in the drawing…room； and it was Maria and Elizabeth。 I was eager for her to go on； and when she said there was no more； I said； 'but go on！ MAKE IT OUT！ I know you can。' She said she would not； she wished she had not dreamed； for it did not go on nicely； they were changed； they had forgotten what they used to care for。 They were very fashionably dressed； and began criticising the room； &c。
〃This habit of 'making out' interests for themselves that most children get who have none in actual life； was very strong in her。 The whole family used to 'make out' histories； and invent characters and events。 I told her sometimes they were like growing potatoes in a cellar。 She said； sadly； 'Yes！ I know we are！'
〃Some one at school said she 'was always talking about clever people； Johnson； Sheridan； &c。' She said； 'Now you don't know the meaning of CLEVER； Sheridan might be clever； yes； Sheridan was clever；scamps often are； but Johnson hadn't a spark of cleverality in him。' No one appreciated the opinion； they made some trivial remark about 'CLEVERALITY；' and she said no more。
〃This is the epitome of her life。 At our house she had just as little chance of a patient hearing； for though not school…girlish； we were more intolerant。 We had a rage for practicality； and laughed all poetry to scorn。 Neither she nor we had any idea but that our opinions were the opinions of all the SENSIBLE people in the world； and we used to astonish each other at every sentence 。 。 。 Charlotte； at school； had no plan of life beyond what circumstances made for her。 She knew that she must provide for herself； and chose her trade； at least chose to begin it once。 Her idea of self…improvement ruled her even at school。 It was to cultivate her tastes。 She always said there was enough of hard practicality and USEFUL knowledge forced on us by necessity； and that the thing most needed was to soften and refine our minds。 She picked up every scrap of information concerning painting； sculpture； poetry； music； &c。； as if it were gold。〃
What I have heard of her school days from other sources； confirms the accuracy