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me home a day or two before； apparently for a holiday； in reality； I imagine； because some discovery had been made which rendered his absence imperatively desirable。 The day of Charlotte's return； he had received a letter from Mr。 …； sternly dismissing him； intimating that his proceedings were discovered； characterising them as bad beyond expression； and charging him； on pain of exposure； to break off immediately； and for ever； all communication with every member of the family。
Whatever may have been the nature and depth of Branwell's sins； whatever may have been his temptation； whatever his guilt；there is no doubt of the suffering which his conduct entailed upon his poor father and his innocent sisters。 The hopes and plans they had cherished long； and laboured hard to fulfil； were cruelly frustrated； henceforward their days were embittered and the natural rest of their nights destroyed by his paroxysms of remorse。 Let us read of the misery caused to his poor sisters in Charlotte's own affecting words：…
〃We have had sad work with Branwell。 He thought of nothing but stunning or drowning his agony of mind。 No one in this house could have rest； and； at last； we have been obliged to send him from home for a week； with some one to look after him。 He has written to me this morning； expressing some sense of contrition 。 。 。 but as long as he remains at home； I scarce dare hope for peace in the house。 We must all； I fear； prepare for a season of distress and disquietude。 When I left you； I was strongly impressed with the feeling that I was going back to sorrow。〃
〃August； 1845。
〃Things here at home are much as usual； not very bright as it regards Branwell； though his health； and consequently his temper； have been somewhat better this last day or two； because he is now FORCED TO abstain。〃
〃August 18th； 1845。
〃I have delayed writing； because I have no good news to communicate。 My hopes ebb low indeed about Branwell。 I sometimes fear he will never be fit for much。 The late blow to his prospects and feelings has quite made him reckless。 It is only absolute want of means that acts as any check to him。 One ought； indeed； to hope to the very last； and I try to do so； but occasionally hope in his case seems so fallacious。〃
〃Nov。 4th； 1845。
〃I hoped to be able to ask you to come to Haworth。 It almost seemed as if Branwell had a chance of getting employment； and I waited to know the result of his efforts in order to say； dear …； come and see us。 But the place （a secretaryship to a railway committee） is given to another person。 Branwell still remains at home； and while HE is here； YOU shall not come。 I am more confirmed in that resolution the more I see of him。 I wish I could say one word to you in his favour； but I cannot。 I will hold my tongue。 We are all obliged to you for your kind suggestion about Leeds； but I think our school schemes are； for the present； at rest。〃
〃Dec。 31st； 1845。
〃You say well； in speaking of …； that no sufferings are so awful as those brought on by dissipation； alas！ I see the truth of this observation daily proved。 andmust have as weary and burdensome a life of it in waiting upon their unhappy brother。 It seems grievous； indeed； that those who have not sinned should suffer so largely。〃
In fact； all their latter days blighted with the presence of cruel； shameful suffering；the premature deaths of two at least of the sisters；all the great possibilities of their earthly lives snapped short；may be dated from Midsummer 1845。
For the last three years of Branwell's life； he took opium habitually； by way of stunning conscience； he drank moreover； whenever he could get the opportunity。 The reader may say that I have mentioned his tendency to intemperance long before。 It is true； but it did not become habitual； as far as I can learn； until after he was dismissed from his tutorship。 He took opium； because it made him forget for a time more effectually than drink； and； besides； it was more portable。 In procuring it he showed all the cunning of the opium…eater。 He would steal out while the family were at churchto which he had professed himself too ill to go and manage to cajole the village druggist out of a lump； or； it might be； the carrier had unsuspiciously brought him some in a packet from a distance。 For some time before his death he had attacks of delirium tremens of the most frightful character； he slept in his father's room； and he would sometimes declare that either he or his father should be dead before the morning。 The trembling sisters； sick with fright； would implore their father not to expose himself to this danger； but Mr。 Bronte is no timid man； and perhaps he felt that he could possibly influence his son to some self…restraint； more by showing trust in him than by showing fear。 The sisters often listened for the report of a pistol in the dead of the night； till watchful eye and hearkening ear grew heavy and dull with the perpetual strain upon their nerves。 In the mornings young Bronte would saunter out； saying； with a drunkard's incontinence of speech； 〃The poor old man and I have had a terrible night of it； he does his bestthe poor old man！ but it's all over with me。〃
CHAPTER XIV
In the course of this sad autumn of 1845； a new interest came up； faint； indeed； and often lost sight of in the vivid pain and constant pressure of anxiety respecting their brother。 In the biographical notice of her sisters； which Charlotte prefixed to the edition of 〃Wuthering Heights〃 and 〃Agnes Grey；〃 published in 1850a piece of writing unique； as far as I know； in its pathos and its powershe says：…
〃One day in the autumn of 1845； I accidentally lighted on a MS。 volume of verse； in my sister Emily's hand…writing。 Of course； I was not surprised； knowing that she could and did write verse： I looked it over； and something more than surprise seized mea deep conviction that these were not common effusions； nor at all like the poetry women generally write。 I thought them condensed and terse； vigorous and genuine。 To my ear they had also a peculiar music； wild； melancholy； and elevating。 My sister Emily was not a person of demonstrative character； nor one on the recesses of whose mind and feelings even those nearest and dearest to her could； with impunity； intrude unlicensed： it took hours to reconcile her to the discovery I had made； and days to persuade her that such poems merited publication 。 。 。 Meantime； my younger sister quietly produced some of her own compositions； intimating that since Emily's had given me pleasure； I might like to look at hers。 I could not but be a partial judge； yet I thought that these verses too had a sweet sincere pathos of their own。 We had very early cherished the dream of one day being authors。 We agreed to arrange a small selection of our poems； and； if possible； get them printed。 Averse to personal publicity； we veiled our own names under those of Currer； Ellis； and Acton Bell； the ambiguous choice being dictated by a sort of conscientious scruple at assuming Christian names； positively masculine； while we did not like to declare ourselves women； becausewithout at the time suspecting that our mode of writing and thinking was not what is called 'feminine；' we had a vague impression that authoresses are liable to be looked on with prejudice； we noticed how critics sometimes use for their chastisement the weapon of personality； and for their reward； a flattery； which is not true praise。 The bringing out of our little book was hard work。 As was to be expected； neither we nor our poems were at all wanted； but for this we had been prepared at the outset； though inexperienced ourselves； we had read the experience of others。 The great puzzle lay in the difficulty of getting answers of any kind from the publishers to whom we applied。 Being greatly harassed by this obstacle； I ventured to apply to the Messrs。 Chambers； of Edinburgh； for a word of advice； THEY may have forgotten the circumstance； but I have not； for from them I received a brief and business…like； but civil and sensible reply； on which we acted； and at last made way。〃
I inquired from Mr。 Robert Chambers； and found； as Miss Bronte conjectured； that he had entirely forgotten the application which had been made to him and his brother for advice； nor had they any copy or memorandum of the correspondence。
There is an intelligent man living in Haworth； who has given me some interesting particulars relating to the sisters about this period。 He says：…
〃I have known Miss Bronte； as Miss Bronte； a long time； indeed； ever since they came to Haworth in 1819。 But I had not much acquaintance with the family till about 1843； when I began to do a little in the stationery line。 Nothing of that kind could be had nearer than Keighley before I began。 They used to buy a great deal of writing paper； and I used to wonder whatever they did with so much。 I sometimes thought they contributed to the Magazines。 When I was out of stock； I was always afraid of their coming； they seemed so distressed about it； if I had none。 I have walked to Halifax （a distance of ten miles） many a time； for half a ream of paper； for fear of being without it when they came。 I could not buy more a