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of pupils； four or six； might be accommodated in the parsonage。 As teaching seemed the only profession open to them； and as it appeared that Emily at least could not live away from home； while the others also suffered much from the same cause； this plan of school… keeping presented itself as most desirable。 But it involved some outlay； and to this their aunt was averse。 Yet there was no one to whom they could apply for a loan of the requisite means； except Miss Branwell； who had made a small store out of her savings； which she intended for her nephew and nieces eventually； but which she did not like to risk。 Still； this plan of school…keeping remained uppermost； and in the evenings of this winter of 1839…40； the alterations that would be necessary in the house； and the best way of convincing their aunt of the wisdom of their project； formed the principal subject of their conversation。
This anxiety weighed upon their minds rather heavily； during the months of dark and dreary weather。 Nor were external events； among the circle of their friends； of a cheerful character。 In January； 1840； Charlotte heard of the death of a young girl who had been a pupil of hers； and a schoolfellow of Anne's； at the time when the sisters were together at Roe Head； and had attached herself very strongly to the latter； who； in return； bestowed upon her much quiet affection。 It was a sad day when the intelligence of this young creature's death arrived。 Charlotte wrote thus on January 12th； 1840：…
〃Your letter； which I received this morning； was one of painful interest。 Anne C。； it seems； is DEAD； when I saw her last； she was a young； beautiful； and happy girl； and now 'life's fitful fever' is over with her； and she 'sleeps well。' I shall never see her again。 It is a sorrowful thought； for she was a warm…hearted； affectionate being； and I cared for her。 Wherever I seek for her now in this world； she cannot be found； no more than a flower or a leaf which withered twenty years ago。 A bereavement of this kind gives one a glimpse of the feeling those must have who have seen all drop round them； friend after friend； and are left to end their pilgrimage alone。 But tears are fruitless； and I try not to repine。〃
During this winter； Charlotte employed her leisure hours in writing a story。 Some fragments of the manuscript yet remain； but it is in too small a hand to be read without great fatigue to the eyes； and one cares the less to read it； as she herself condemned it； in the preface to the 〃Professor；〃 by saying that in this story she had got over such taste as she might once have had for the 〃ornamental and redundant in composition。〃 The beginning； too； as she acknowledges； was on a scale commensurate with one of Richardson's novels； of seven or eight volumes。 I gather some of these particulars from a copy of a letter； apparently in reply to one from Wordsworth； to whom she had sent the commencement of the story； sometime in the summer of 1840。
〃Authors are generally very tenacious of their productions； but I am not so much attached to this but that I can give it up without much distress。 No doubt； if I had gone on； I should have made quite a Richardsonian concern of it 。 。 。 I had materials in my head for half…a…dozen volumes 。 。 。 Of course； it is with considerable regret I relinquish any scheme so charming as the one I have sketched。 It is very edifying and profitable to create a world out of your own brains； and people it with inhabitants； who are so many Melchisedecs； and have no father nor mother but your own imagination 。 。 。 I am sorry I did not exist fifty or sixty years ago； when the 'Ladies' Magazine' was flourishing like a green bay…tree。 In that case； I make no doubt； my aspirations after literary fame would have met with due encouragement； and I should have had the pleasure of introducing Messrs。 Percy and West into the very best society； and recording all their sayings and doings in double…columned close…printed pages 。 。 。 I recollect； when I was a child； getting hold of some antiquated volumes； and 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