CHAPTERI。
Mr。Bronteafflictedwithblindness，andrelievedbyasuccessfuloperationforcataract——CharlotteBronte’sfirstworkoffiction，\"TheProfessor\"——Shecommences\"JaneEyre\"——Circumstancesattendingitscomposition——Herideasofaheroine——Herattachmenttohome——HaworthinDecember——Aletterofconfessionandcounsel。
CHAPTERII。
StateofCharlotteBronte’shealthatthecommencementof1847——
Familytrials——\"WutheringHeights\"and\"AgnesGrey\"acceptedbyapublisher——\"TheProfessor\"rejected——Completionof\"JaneEyre\"，itsreceptionandpublication——Thereviewsof\"JaneEyre\"，andtheauthor’scommentsonthem——Herfather’sreceptionofthebook——Publicinterestexcitedby\"JaneEyre\"——DedicationofthesecondeditiontoMr。Thackeray——CorrespondenceofCurrerBellwithMr。Leweson\"JaneEyre\"——Publicationof\"WutheringHeights\"
and\"AgnesGrey\"——MissBronte’saccountoftheauthoressof\"WutheringHeights\"——DomesticanxietiesoftheBrontesisters——CurrerBell’scorrespondencewithMr。Lewes——UnhealthystateofHaworth——CharlotteBronteontherevolutionsof1848——Herrepudiationofauthorship——AnneBronte’ssecondtale，\"TheTenantofWildfellHall\"——MisunderstandingastotheindividualityofthethreeBells，anditsresults——CurrerandActonBellvisitLondon——CharlotteBronte’saccountofhervisit——TheChapterCoffeeHouse——TheClergyDaughters’SchoolatCasterton——DeathofBranwellBronte——IllnessanddeathofEmilyBronte。
CHAPTERIII
TheQuarterlyReviewon\"JaneEyre\"——SevereillnessofAnneBronte——Herlastverses——SheisremovedtoScarborough——Herlasthours，anddeathandburialthere——Charlotte’sreturntoHaworth，andherloneliness。
CHAPTERIV。
Commencementandcompletionof\"Shirley\"——Originalsofthecharacters，andcircumstancesunderwhichitwaswritten——Lossonrailwayshares——LetterstoMr。Lewesandotherfriendson\"Shirley，\"andthereviewsofit——MissBrontevisitsLondon，meetsMr。Thackeray，andmakestheacquaintanceofMissMartineau——Herimpressionsofliterarymen。
CHAPTERV。
\"CurrerBell\"identifiedasMissBronteatHaworthandthevicinity——HerlettertoMr。Lewesonhisreviewof\"Shirley\"——Solitudeandheavymentalsadnessandanxiety——ShevisitsSirJ。andLadyKayShuttleworth——Hercommentsoncritics，andremarksonThackeray’s\"Pendennis\"andScott’s\"SuggestionsonFemaleEducation\"——Opinionsof\"Shirley\"byYorkshirereaders。
CHAPTERVI。
AnunhealthyspringatHaworth——MissBronte’sproposedvisittoLondon——Herremarkson\"TheLeader\"——Associationsofherwalksonthemoors——Lettertoanunknownadmirerofherworks——IncidentsofhervisittoLondon——HerimpressionsofavisittoScotland——Herportrait，byRichmond——Anxietyaboutherfather。
CHAPTERVII。
VisittoSirJ。andLadyKayShuttleworth——Thebiographer’simpressionsofMissBronte——MissBronte’saccountofhervisittotheLakesofWestmoreland——Herdisinclinationforacquaintanceandvisiting——Remarkson\"Woman’sMission，\"Tennyson’s\"InMemoriam，\"etc——ImpressionsofhervisittoScotland——Remarksonareviewinthe\"Palladium。\"
CHAPTERVIII。
Intendedrepublicationof\"WutheringHeights\"and\"AgnesGrey\"——
ReactionafterhervisittoScotland——HerfirstmeetingwithMr。
Lewes——HeropinionofBalzacandGeorgeSand——Acharacteristicincident——AccountofafriendlyvisittoHaworthParsonage——Remarkson\"TheRoman，\"bySydneyDobell，andonthecharacterofDr。Arnold——LettertoMr。Dobell。
CHAPTERIX。
MissBronte’svisittoMissMartineau，andestimateofherhostess——RemarksonMr。Ruskin’s\"StonesofVenice\"——PreparationsforanothervisittoLondon——LettertoMr。SydneyDobell:themoorsinautumn——Mr。Thackeray’ssecondlectureatWillis’sRooms，andsensationproducedbyCurrerBell’sappearancethere——HeraccountofhervisittoLondon——ShebreakfastswithMr。Rogers，visitstheGreatExhibition，andseesLordWestminster’spictures——ReturntoHaworthandletterthence——HercommentonMr。Thackeray’sLecture——Counselondevelopmentofcharacter。
CHAPTERX。
Remarksonfriendship——LettertoMrs。GaskellonherandMissMartineau’sviewsoftheGreatExhibitionandMr。Thackeray’slecture，andonthe\"Saint’sTragedy\"——MissBronte’sfeelingstowardschildren——HercommentsonMr。J。S。Mill’sarticleontheEmancipationofWomen——MoreillnessatHaworthParsonage——LetteronEmigration——Periodicalreturnsofillness——MissWoolervisitsHaworth——MissBronte’simpressionsofhervisittoLondon——HeraccountoftheprogressofVillette——Herincreasingillnessandsufferingsduringwinter——HerletteronMr。Thackeray’sEsmond——
Revivalofsorrowsandaccessionsoflowspirits——Remarksonsomerecentbooks——Retrospectofthewinterof1851-2——LettertoMrs。
Gaskellon\"Ruth。\"
CHAPTERXI。
MissBronterevisitsScarborough——Seriousillnessandultimateconvalescenceofherfather——Herownillness——\"Villette\"nearlycompleted——Furtherremarkson\"Esmond\"and\"UncleTom’sCabin\"——Letterrespecting\"Villette\"——Anotherletterabout\"Villette\"——Instanceofextremesensibility。
CHAPTERXII。
Thebiographer’sdifficulty——DeepandenduringattachmentofMr。
NichollsforMissBronte——Instanceofherself-abnegation——SheagainvisitsLondon——Impressionsofthisvisit——LettertoMrs。
Gaskell——Receptionofthecritiqueson\"Villette\"——MisunderstandingwithMissMartineau——LetteronMr。
Thackeray’sportrait——VisitoftheBishopofRipontoHaworthParsonage——Herwishtoseetheunfavourablecritiquesonherworks——Hernervousshynessofstrangers，anditscause——LetteronMr。Thackeray’slectures。
CHAPTERXIII。
LettertoMrs。Gaskellonwritingfiction，etc——Thebiographer’saccountofhervisittoHaworth，andreminiscencesofconversationswithMissBronte——LettersfromMissBrontetoherfriends——HerengagementtoMr。Nicholls，andpreparationsforthemarriage——Themarriageceremonyandweddingtour——Herhappinessinthemarriedstate——Newsymptomsofillness，andtheircause——ThetwolastletterswrittenbyMrs。Nicholls——Analarmingchange——Herdeath。
CHAPTERXIV。
Mournersatthefuneral——Conclusion。
CHAPTERI
Duringthissummerof1846，whileherliteraryhopeswerewaning，ananxietyofanotherkindwasincreasing。Herfather’seyesighthadbecomeseriouslyimpairedbytheprogressofthecataractwhichwasforming。Hewasnearlyblind。Hecouldgropehiswayabout，andrecognisethefiguresofthoseheknewwell，whentheywereplacedagainstastronglight；buthecouldnolongerseetoread；andthushiseagerappetiteforknowledgeandinformationofallkindswasseverelybalked。Hecontinuedtopreach。Ihaveheardthathewasledupintothepulpit，andthathissermonswereneversoeffectiveaswhenhestoodthere，agreysightlessoldman，hisblindeyeslookingoutstraightbeforehim，whilethewordsthatcamefromhislipshadallthevigourandforceofhisbestdays。Anotherfacthasbeenmentionedtome，curiousasshowingtheaccuratenessofhissensationoftime。Hissermonshadalwayslastedexactlyhalfanhour。Withtheclockrightbeforehim，andwithhisreadyflowofwords，thishadbeennodifficultmatteraslongashecouldsee。Butitwasthesamewhenhewasblind；astheminute-handcametothepoint，markingtheexpirationofthethirtyminutes，heconcludedhissermon。
Underhisgreatsorrowhewasalwayspatient。Asintimesoffargreateraffliction，heenforcedaquietenduranceofhiswoeuponhimself。Butsomanyinterestswerequenchedbythisblindnessthathewasdriveninwards，andmusthavedweltmuchonwhatwaspainfulanddistressinginregardtohisonlyson。Nowonderthathisspiritsgaveway，andweredepressed。Forsometimebeforethisautumn，hisdaughtershadbeencollectingalltheinformationtheycouldrespectingtheprobablesuccessofoperationsforcataractperformedonapersonoftheirfather’sage。AbouttheendofJuly，EmilyandCharlottehadmadeajourneytoManchesterforthepurposeofsearchingoutanoperator；andtheretheyheardofthefameofthelateMr。Wilsonasanoculist。Theywenttohimatonce，buthecouldnottell，fromdescription，whethertheeyeswerereadyforbeingoperateduponornot。ItthereforebecamenecessaryforMr。Brontetovisithim；andtowardstheendofAugust，Charlottebroughtherfathertohim。Hedeterminedatoncetoundertaketheoperation，andrecommendedthemtocomfortablelodgings，keptbyanoldservantofhis。Thesewereinoneofnumeroussimilarstreetsofsmallmonotonous-lookinghouses，inasuburbofthetown。Fromthencethefollowingletterisdated，onAugust21st，1846:——
\"IjustscribblealinetoyoutoletyouknowwhereIam，inorderthatyoumaywritetomehere，foritseemstomethataletterfromyouwouldrelievemefromthefeelingofstrangenessIhaveinthisbigtown。PapaandIcamehereonWednesday；wesawMr。Wilson，theoculist，thesameday；hepronouncedpapa’seyesquitereadyforanoperation，andhasfixednextMondayfortheperformanceofit。Thinkofusonthatday！Wegotintoourlodgingsyesterday。Ithinkweshallbecomfortable；atleastourroomsareverygood，butthereisnomistressofthehousesheisveryill，andgoneoutintothecountry，andIamsomewhatpuzzledinmanagingaboutprovisions；weboardourselves。Ifindmyselfexcessivelyignorant。Ican’ttellwhattoorderinthewayofmeat。ForourselvesIcouldcontrive，papa’sdietissoverysimple；buttherewillbeanursecominginadayortwo，andIamafraidofnothavingthingsgoodenoughforher。Paparequiresnothing，youknow，butplainbeefandmutton，teaandbreadandbutter；butanursewillprobablyexpecttolivemuchbetter；givemesomehintsifyoucan。Mr。Wilsonsaysweshallhavetostayhereforamonthatleast。IwonderhowEmilyandAnnewillgetonathomewithBranwell。They，too，willhavetheirtroubles。WhatwouldInotgivetohaveyouhere！Oneisforced，stepbystep，togetexperienceintheworld；butthelearningissodisagreeable。Onecheerfulfeatureinthebusinessis，thatMr。Wilsonthinksmostfavourablyofthecase。\"
\"August26th，1846。
\"Theoperationisover；ittookplaceyesterdayMr。Wilsonperformedit；twoothersurgeonsassisted。Mr。Wilsonsays，heconsidersitquitesuccessful；butpapacannotyetseeanything。
Theaffairlastedpreciselyaquarterofanhour；itwasnotthesimpleoperationofcouchingMr。C。described，butthemorecomplicatedoneofextractingthecataract。Mr。Wilsonentirelydisapprovesofcouching。Papadisplayedextraordinarypatienceandfirmness；thesurgeonsseemedsurprised。Iwasintheroomallthetime；asitwashiswishthatIshouldbethere；ofcourse，Ineitherspokenormovedtillthethingwasdone，andthenIfeltthatthelessIsaid，eithertopapaorthesurgeons，thebetter。Papaisnowconfinedtohisbedinadarkroom，andisnottobestirredforfourdays；heistospeakandbespokentoaslittleaspossible。Iamgreatlyobligedtoyouforyourletter，andyourkindadvice，whichgavemeextremesatisfaction，becauseIfoundIhadarrangedmostthingsinaccordancewithit，and，asyourtheorycoincideswithmypractice，Ifeelassuredthelatterisright。IhopeMr。Wilsonwillsoonallowmetodispensewiththenurse；sheiswellenough，nodoubt，butsomewhattooobsequious；andnot，Ishouldthink，tobemuchtrusted；yetIwasobligedtotrustherinsomethings……
\"GreatlywasIamusedbyyouraccountof——’sflirtations；andyetsomethingsaddenedalso。IthinkNatureintendedhimforsomethingbetterthantofritterawayhistimeinmakingasetofpoor，unoccupiedspinstersunhappy。Thegirls，unfortunately，areforcedtocareforhim，andsuchashim，because，whiletheirmindsaremostlyunemployed，theirsensationsareallunworn，and，consequently，freshandgreen；andhe，onthecontrary，hashadhisfillofpleasure，andcanwithimpunitymakeamerepastimeofotherpeople’storments。Thisisanunfairstateofthings；thematchisnotequal。IonlywishIhadthepowertoinfuseintothesoulsofthepersecutedalittleofthequietstrengthofpride——ofthesupportingconsciousnessofsuperiorityfortheyaresuperiortohimbecausepurer——ofthefortifyingresolveoffirmnesstobearthepresent，andwaittheend。Couldallthevirginpopulationof——receiveandretainthesesentiments，hewouldcontinuallyhavetoveilhiscrestbeforethem。Perhaps，luckily，theirfeelingsarenotsoacuteasonewouldthink，andthegentleman’sshaftsconsequentlydon’twoundsodeeplyashemightdesire。Ihopeitisso。\"
Afewdayslater，shewritesthus:\"Papaisstilllyinginbed，inadarkroom，withhiseyesbandaged。Noinflammationensued，butstillitappearsthegreatestcare，perfectquiet，andutterprivationoflightarenecessarytoensureagoodresultfromtheoperation。Heisverypatient，but，ofcourse，depressedandweary。Hewasallowedtotryhissightforthefirsttimeyesterday。Hecouldseedimly。Mr。Wilsonseemedperfectlysatisfied，andsaidallwasright。IhavehadbadnightsfromthetoothachesinceIcametoManchester。\"
Allthistime，notwithstandingthedomesticanxietieswhichwereharassingthem——notwithstandingtheill-successoftheirpoems——thethreesistersweretryingthatotherliteraryventure，towhichCharlottemadeallusioninoneofherletterstotheMessrs。Aylott。Eachofthemhadwrittenaprosetale，hopingthatthethreemightbepublishedtogether。\"WutheringHeights\"
and\"AgnesGrey\"arebeforetheworld。Thethird——Charlotte’scontribution——isyetinmanuscript，butwillbepublishedshortlyaftertheappearanceofthismemoir。Theplotinitselfisofnogreatinterest；butitisapoorkindofinterestthatdependsuponstartlingincidentsratherthanupondramaticdevelopmentofcharacter；andCharlotteBronteneverexcelledoneortwosketchesofportraitswhichshehadgivenin\"TheProfessor\"，nor，ingraceofwomanhood，eversurpassedoneofthefemalecharacterstheredescribed。Bythetimeshewrotethistale，hertasteandjudgmenthadrevoltedagainsttheexaggeratedidealismsofherearlygirlhood，andshewenttotheextremeofreality，closelydepictingcharactersastheyhadshownthemselvestoherinactuallife:iftheretheywerestrongeventocoarseness，——aswasthecasewithsomethatshehadmetwithinfleshandbloodexistence，——she\"wrotethemdownanass；\"ifthesceneryofsuchlifeasshesawwasforthemostpartwildandgrotesque，insteadofpleasantorpicturesque，shedescribeditlineforline。Thegraceoftheoneortwoscenesandcharacters，whicharedrawnratherfromherownimaginationthanfromabsolutefactstandoutinexquisiterelieffromthedeepshadowsandwaywardlinesofothers，whichcalltomindsomeoftheportraitsofRembrandt。
Thethreetaleshadtriedtheirfateinvaintogether，atlengththeyweresentforthseparately，andformanymonthswithstill-
continuedillsuccess。Ihavementionedthishere，because，amongthedispiritingcircumstancesconnectedwithheranxiousvisittoManchester，Charlottetoldmethathertalecamebackuponherhands，curtlyrejectedbysomepublisher，ontheverydaywhenherfatherwastosubmittohisoperation。ButshehadtheheartofRobertBrucewithinher，andfailureuponfailuredauntedhernomorethanhim。Notonlydid\"TheProfessor\"returnagaintotryhischanceamongtheLondonpublishers，butshebegan，inthistimeofcareanddepressinginquietude，inthosegrey，weary，uniformstreets；whereallfaces，savethatofherkinddoctor，werestrangeanduntouchedwithsunlighttoher，——thereandthen，didthebravegeniusbegin\"JaneEyre\"。Readwhatsheherselfsays:——\"CurrerBell’sbookfoundacceptancenowhere，noranyacknowledgmentofmerit，sothatsomethinglikethechillofdespairbegantoinvadehisheart。\"And，rememberitwasnottheheartofapersonwho，disappointedinonehope，canturnwithredoubledaffectiontothemanycertainblessingsthatremain。
Thinkofherhome，andtheblackshadowofremorselyingoveroneinit，tillhisverybrainwasmazed，andhisgiftsandhislifewerelost；——thinkofherfather’ssighthangingonathread；——ofhersister’sdelicatehealth，anddependenceonhercare；——andthenadmireasitdeservestobeadmired，thesteadycouragewhichcouldworkawayat\"JaneEyre\"，allthetime\"thattheone-volumetalewasploddingitswearyroundinLondon。\"
IbelieveIhavealreadymentionedthatsomeofhersurvivingfriendsconsiderthatanincidentwhichsheheard，whenatschoolatMissWooler’s，wasthegermofthestoryofJaneEyre。Butofthisnothing。canbeknown，exceptbyconjecture。Thosetowhomshespokeuponthesubjectofherwritingsaredeadandsilent；andthereadermayprobablyhavenoticed，thatinthecorrespondencefromwhichIhavequoted，therehasbeennoallusionwhatevertothepublicationofherpoems，noristheretheleasthintoftheintentionofthesisterstopublishanytales。Iremember，however，manylittleparticularswhichMissBrontegaveme，inanswertomyinquiriesrespectinghermodeofcomposition，etc。Shesaid，thatitwasnoteveryday，thatshecouldwrite。Sometimesweeksorevenmonthselapsedbeforeshefeltthatshehadanythingtoaddtothatportionofherstorywhichwasalreadywritten。Then，somemorning，shewouldwakenup，andtheprogressofhertalelayclearandbrightbeforeher，indistinctvision。whenthiswasthecase，allhercarewastodischargeherhouseholdandfilialduties，soastoobtainleisuretositdownandwriteouttheincidentsandconsequentthoughts，whichwere，infact，morepresenttohermindatsuchtimesthanheractuallifeitself。Yetnotwithstandingthis\"possession\"asitwere，thosewhosurvive，ofherdailyandhouseholdcompanions，areclearintheirtestimony，thatneverwastheclaimofanyduty，neverwasthecallofanotherforhelp，neglectedforaninstant。IthadbecomenecessarytogiveTabby——nownearlyeightyyearsofage——theassistanceofagirl。
Tabbyrelinquishedanyofherworkwithjealousreluctance，andcouldnotbeartobereminded，thougheversodelicately，thattheacutenessofhersenseswasdulledbyage。Theotherservantmightnotinterferewithwhatshechosetoconsiderherexclusivework。Amongotherthings，shereservedtoherselftherightofpeelingthepotatoesfordinner；butasshewasgrowingblind，sheoftenleftinthoseblackspecks，whichweintheNorthcallthe\"eyes\"ofthepotato。MissBrontewastoodaintyahousekeepertoputupwiththis；yetshecouldnotbeartohurtthefaithfuloldservant，bybiddingtheyoungermaidengooverthepotatoesagain，andsoremindingTabbythatherworkwaslesseffectualthanformerly。Accordinglyshewouldstealintothekitchen，andquietlycarryoffthebowlofvegetables，withoutTabby’sbeingaware，andbreakingoffinthefullflowofinterestandinspirationinherwriting，carefullycutoutthespecksinthepotatoes，andnoiselesslycarrythembacktotheirplace。Thislittleproceedingmayshowhoworderlyandfullysheaccomplishedherduties，evenatthosetimeswhenthe\"possession\"wasuponher。
Anyonewhohasstudiedherwritings，——whetherinprintorinherletters；anyonewhohasenjoyedtherareprivilegeoflisteningtohertalk，musthavenoticedhersingularfelicityinthechoiceofwords。Sheherself，inwritingherbooks，wassolicitousonthispoint。Onesetofwordswasthetruthfulmirrorofherthoughts；noothers，howeverapparentlyidenticalinmeaning，woulddo。Shehadthatstrongpracticalregardforthesimpleholytruthofexpression，whichMr。Trenchhasenforced，asadutytoooftenneglected。Shewouldwaitpatientlysearchingfortherightterm，untilitpresenteditselftoher。
Itmightbeprovincial，itmightbederivedfromtheLatin；sothatitaccuratelyrepresentedheridea，shedidnotmindwhenceitcame；butthiscaremakesherstylepresentthefinishofapieceofmosaic。Eachcomponentpart，howeversmall，hasbeendroppedintotherightplace。Sheneverwrotedownasentenceuntilsheclearlyunderstoodwhatshewantedtosay，haddeliberatelychosenthewords，andarrangedthemintheirrightorder。Henceitcomesthat，inthescrapsofpapercoveredwithherpencilwritingwhichIhaveseen，therewilloccasionallybeasentencescoredout，butseldom，ifever，awordoranexpression。Shewroteonthesebitsofpaperinaminutehand，holdingeachagainstapieceofboard，suchasisusedinbindingbooks，foradesk。Thisplanwasnecessaryforonesoshort-sightedasshewas；and，besides，itenabledhertousepencilandpaper，asshesatnearthefireinthetwilighthours，orifaswastoooftenthecaseshewaswakefulforhoursinthenight。Herfinishedmanuscriptswerecopiedfromthesepencilscraps，inclear，legible，delicatetracedwriting，almostaseasytoreadasprint。
Thesistersretainedtheoldhabit，whichwasbegunintheiraunt’slife-time，ofputtingawaytheirworkatnineo’clock，andbeginningtheirstudy，pacingupanddownthesittingroom。Atthistime，theytalkedoverthestoriestheywereengagedupon，anddescribedtheirplots。Onceortwiceaweek，eachreadtotheotherswhatshehadwritten，andheardwhattheyhadtosayaboutit。Charlottetoldme，thattheremarksmadehadseldomanyeffectininducinghertoalterherwork，sopossessedwasshewiththefeelingthatshehaddescribedreality；butthereadingswereofgreatandstirringinteresttoall，takingthemoutofthegnawingpressureofdaily-recurringcares，andsettingtheminafreeplace。Itwasononeoftheseoccasions，thatCharlottedeterminedtomakeherheroineplain，small，andunattractive，indefianceoftheacceptedcanon。
Thewriterofthebeautifulobituaryarticleon\"thedeathofCurrerBell\"mostlikelylearntfromherselfwhatistherestated，andwhichIwilltakethelibertyofquoting，aboutJaneEyre。
\"Sheoncetoldhersistersthattheywerewrong——evenmorallywrong——inmakingtheirheroinesbeautifulasamatterofcourse。
Theyrepliedthatitwasimpossibletomakeaheroineinterestingonanyotherterms。Heranswerwas，’Iwillprovetoyouthatyouarewrong；Iwillshowyouaheroineasplainandassmallasmyself，whoshallbeasinterestingasanyofyours。’Hence’JaneEyre，’saidsheintellingtheanecdote:’butsheisnotmyself，anyfurtherthanthat。’Astheworkwenton，theinterestdeepenedtothewriter。Whenshecameto’Thornfield’shecouldnotstop。Beingshort-sightedtoexcess，shewroteinlittlesquarepaper-books，heldclosetohereyes，andthefirstcopy
inpencil。Onshewent，writingincessantlyforthreeweeks；bywhichtimeshehadcarriedherheroineawayfromThornfield，andwasherselfinafeverwhichcompelledhertopause。\"
Thisisall，Ibelieve，whichcannowbetoldrespectingtheconceptionandcompositionofthiswonderfulbook，whichwas，however，onlyatitscommencementwhenMissBrontereturnedwithherfathertoHaworth，aftertheiranxiousexpeditiontoManchester。
TheyarrivedathomeabouttheendofSeptember。Mr。Brontewasdailygainingstrength，buthewasstillforbiddentoexercisehissightmuch。ThingshadgoneonmorecomfortablywhileshewasawaythanCharlottehaddaredtohope，andsheexpressesherselfthankfulforthegoodensuredandtheevilsparedduringherabsence。
Soonafterthissomeproposal，ofwhichIhavenotbeenabletogainaclearaccount，wasagainmootedforMissBronte’sopeningaschoolatsomeplacedistantfromHaworth。Itelicitedthefollowingfragmentofacharacteristicreply:——
\"Leavehome！——Ishallneitherbeabletofindplacenoremployment，perhaps，too，Ishallbequitepasttheprimeoflife，myfacultieswillberusted，andmyfewacquirementsinagreatmeasureforgotten。Theseideasstingmekeenlysometimes；
but，wheneverIconsultmyconscience，itaffirmsthatIamdoingrightinstayingathome，andbitterareitsupbraidingswhenI
yieldtoaneagerdesireforrelease。IcouldhardlyexpectsuccessifIweretoerragainstsuchwarnings。Ishouldliketohearfromyouagainsoon。Bring——tothepoint，andmakehimgiveyouaclear，notavague，accountofwhatpupilshereallycouldpromise；peopleoftenthinktheycandogreatthingsinthatwaytilltheyhavetried；butgettingpupilsisunlikegettinganyothersortofgoods。\"
Whatevermightbethenatureandextentofthisnegotiation，theendofitwasthatCharlotteadheredtothedecisionofherconscience，whichbadeherremainathome，aslongasherpresencecouldcheerorcomfortthosewhowereindistress，orhadtheslightestinfluenceoverhimwhowasthecauseofit。Thenextextractgivesusaglimpseintothecaresofthathome。ItisfromaletterdatedDecember15th。
\"Ihopeyouarenotfrozenup；thecoldhereisdreadful。IdonotremembersuchaseriesofNorth-Poledays。EnglandmightreallyhavetakenaslideupintotheArcticZone；theskylookslikeice；theearthisfrozen；thewindisaskeenasatwo-edgedblade。Wehaveallhadseverecoldsandcoughsinconsequenceoftheweather。PoorAnnehassufferedgreatlyfromasthma，butisnow，wearegladtosay，ratherbetter。Shehadtwonightslastweekwhenhercoughanddifficultyofbreathingwerepainfulindeedtohearandwitness，andmusthavebeenmostdistressingtosuffer；sheboreit，asshebearsallaffliction，withoutonecomplaint，onlysighingnowandthenwhennearlywornout。Shehasanextraordinaryheroismofendurance。Iadmire，butI
certainlycouldnotimitateher。\"……\"YousayIamto’tellyouplenty。’Whatwouldyouhavemesay？NothinghappensatHaworth；nothing，atleast，ofapleasantkind。Onelittleincidentoccurredaboutaweekago，tostingustolife；butifitgivesnomorepleasureforyoutohear，thanitdidforustowitness，youwillscarcelythankmeforadvertingtoit。ItwasmerelythearrivalofaSheriff’sofficeronavisittoB。，invitinghimeithertopayhisdebtsortakeatriptoYork。Ofcoursehisdebtshadtobepaid。Itisnotagreeabletolosemoney，timeaftertime，inthisway；butwhereistheuseofdwellingonsuchsubjects？Itwillmakehimnobetter。\"
\"December28th。
\"Ifeelasifitwasalmostafarcetositdownandwritetoyounow，withnothingtosayworthlisteningto；and，indeed，ifitwerenotfortworeasons，Ishouldputoffthebusinessatleastafortnighthence。Thefirstreasonis，Iwantanotherletterfromyou，foryourlettersareinteresting，theyhavesomethinginthem；someresultsofexperienceandobservation；onereceivesthemwithpleasure，andreadsthemwithrelish；andtheselettersIcannotexpecttoget，unlessIreplytothem。Iwishthecorrespondencecouldbemanagedsoastobeallononeside。Thesecondreasonisderivedfromaremarkinyourlast，thatyoufeltlonely，somethingasIwasatBrussels，andthatconsequentlyyouhadapeculiardesiretohearfromoldacquaintance。Icanunderstandandsympathisewiththis。I
remembertheshortestnotewasatreattome，whenIwasattheabove-namedplace；thereforeIwrite。Ihavealsoathirdreason:
itisahauntingterrorlestyoushouldimagineIforgetyou——thatmyregardcoolswithabsence。Itisnotinmynaturetoforgetyournature；though，Idaresay，Ishouldspitfireandexplodesometimesifwelivedtogethercontinually；andyou，too，wouldgetangry，andthenweshouldgetreconciledandjogonasbefore。Doyouevergetdissatisfiedwithyourowntemperwhenyouarelongfixedtooneplace，inonescene，subjecttoonemonotonousspeciesofannoyance？Ido:Iamnowinthatunenviableframeofmind；myhumour，Ithink，istoosoonover-
thrown，toosore，toodemonstrativeandvehement。IalmostlongforsomeoftheuniformserenityyoudescribeinMrs——’sdisposition；or，atleast，Iwouldfainhaveherpowerofself-
controlandconcealment；butIwouldnottakeherartificialhabitsandideasalongwithhercomposure。AfterallIshouldpreferbeingasIam……Youdorightnottobeannoyedatanymaximsofconventionalityyoumeetwith。Regardallnewwaysinthelightoffreshexperienceforyou:ifyouseeanyhoneygatherit。\"……\"Idon’t，afterall，considerthatweoughttodespiseeverythingweseeintheworld，merelybecauseitisnotwhatweareaccustomedto。Isuspect，onthecontrary，thattherearenotunfrequentlysubstantialreasonsunderneathforcustomsthatappeartousabsurd；andifIwereeveragaintofindmyselfamongststrangers，IshouldbesolicitoustoexaminebeforeI
condemned。Indiscriminatingironyandfaultfindingarejustsumphishness，andthatisall。Anneisnowmuchbetter，butpapahasbeenfornearafortnightfarfromwellwiththeinfluenza；
hehasattimesamostdistressingcough，andhisspiritsaremuchdepressed。\"
Soendedtheyear1846。
CHAPTERII
Thenextyearopenedwithaspellofcolddrearyweather，whichtoldseverelyonaconstitutionalreadytriedbyanxietyandcare。MissBrontedescribesherselfashavingutterlylostherappetite，andaslooking\"grey，old，wornandsunk，\"fromhersufferingsduringtheinclementseason。Thecoldbroughtonseveretoothache；toothachewasthecauseofasuccessionofrestlessmiserablenights；andlongwakefulnesstoldacutelyuponhernerves，makingthemfeelwithredoubledsensitivenessalltheharassofheroppressivelife。Yetshewouldnotallowherselftolayherbadhealthtothechargeofanuneasymind；\"forafterall，\"saidsheatthistime，\"Ihavemany，manythingstobethankfulfor。\"Buttherealstateofthingsmaybegatheredfromthefollowingextractsfromherletters。
\"March1st。
\"Evenattheriskofappearingveryexacting，Ican’thelpsayingthatIshouldlikealetteraslongasyourlast，everytimeyouwrite。Shortnotesgiveonethefeelingofaverysmallpieceofaverygoodthingtoeat，——theysettheappetiteonedge，anddon’tsatisfyit，——aletterleavesyoumorecontented；andyet，afterall，Iamverygladtogetnotes；sodon’tthink，whenyouarepinchedfortimeandmaterials，thatitisuselesstowriteafewlines；beassured，afewlinesareveryacceptableasfarastheygo；andthoughIlikelongletters，Iwouldbynomeanshaveyoutomakeataskofwritingthem……IreallyshouldlikeyoutocometoHaworth，beforeIagaingotoB。AnditisnaturalandrightthatIshouldhavethiswish。Tokeepfriendshipinproperorder，thebalanceofgoodofficesmustbepreserved，otherwiseadisquietingandanxiousfeelingcreepsin，anddestroysmutualcomfort。Insummerandinfineweather，yourvisitheremightbemuchbettermanagedthaninwinter。Wecouldgooutmore，bemoreindependentofthehouseandofourroom。
Branwellhasbeenconductinghimselfverybadlylately。Iexpect，fromtheextravaganceofhisbehaviour，andfrommysterioushintshedropsforheneverwillspeakoutplainly，thatweshallbehearingnewsoffreshdebtscontractedbyhimsoon。Myhealthisbetter:Ilaytheblameofitsfeeblenessonthecoldweather，morethanonanuneasymind。\"
\"March24th，1847。
\"ItisatHaworth，ifallbewell，thatwemustnextseeeachotheragain。IoweyouagrudgeforgivingMissM——someveryexaggeratedaccountaboutmynotbeingwell，andsettingherontourgemyleavinghomeasquiteaduty。I’lltakecarenottotellyounexttime，whenIthinkIamlookingspeciallyoldandugly；asifpeoplecouldnothavethatprivilege，withoutbeingsupposedtobeatthelastgasp！Ishallbethirty-onenextbirthday。Myyouthisgonelikeadream；andverylittleusehaveIevermadeofit。WhathaveIdonetheselastthirtyyears？
Preciouslittle。\"
Thequiet，sadyearstoleon。Thesisterswerecontemplatingnearathand，andforalongtime，theterribleeffectsoftalentsmisusedandfacultiesabusedinthepersonofthatbrother，oncetheirfonddarlinganddearestpride。Theyhadtocheerthepooroldfather，intowhoseheartalltrialssankthedeeper，becauseofthesilentstoicismofhisendurance。Theyhadtowatchoverhishealth，ofwhich，whateverwasitsstate，heseldomcomplained。Theyhadtosave，asmuchastheycould，thepreciousremnantsofhissight。Theyhadtoorderthefrugalhouseholdwithincreasedcare，soastosupplywantsandexpenditureutterlyforeigntotheirself-denyingnatures。Thoughtheyshrankfromovermuchcontactwiththeirfellow-beings，forallwhomtheymettheyhadkindwords，iffew；andwhenkindactionswereneeded，theywerenotspared，ifthesistersattheparsonagecouldrenderthem。Theyvisitedtheparish-schoolsduly；andoftenwereCharlotte’srareandbriefholidaysofavisitfromhomeshortenedbyhersenseofthenecessityofbeinginherplaceattheSunday-school。
Intheintervalsofsuchalifeasthis，\"JaneEyre\"wasmakingprogress。\"TheProfessor\"waspassingslowlyandheavilyfrompublishertopublisher。\"WutheringHeights\"and\"AgnesGrey\"hadbeenacceptedbyanotherpublisher，\"ontermssomewhatimpoverishingtothetwoauthors；\"abargaintobealludedtomorefullyhereafter。Itwaslyinginhishands，awaitinghispleasureforitspassagethroughthepress，duringallthemonthsofearlysummer。
Thepieceofexternalbrightnesstowhichthesisterslookedduringthesesamesummermonths，wasthehopethatthefriendtowhomsomanyofCharlotte’slettersareaddressed，andwhowasherchosencompanion，whenevercircumstancespermittedthemtobetogether，aswellasafavouritewithEmilyandAnne，wouldbeabletopaythemavisitatHaworth。FineweatherhadcomeinMay，Charlottewrites，andtheyhopedtomaketheirvisitordecentlycomfortable。Theirbrotherwastolerablywell，havinggottotheendofaconsiderablesumofmoneywhichhebecamepossessedofinthespring，andthereforeunderthewholesomerestrictionofpoverty。ButCharlottewarnsherfriendthatshemustexpecttofindachangeinhisappearance，andthatheisbrokeninmind；andendshernoteofentreatinginvitationbysaying，\"Iprayforfineweather，thatwemaygetoutwhileyoustay。\"
Atlengththedaywasfixed。
\"Fridaywillsuitusverywell。IDOtrustnothingwillnowarisetopreventyourcoming。Ishallbeanxiousabouttheweatheronthatday；ifitrains，Ishallcry。Don’texpectmetomeetyou；
wherewouldbethegoodofit？Ineitherliketomeet，nortobemet。Unless，indeed，youhadaboxorabasketformetocarry；
thentherewouldbesomesenseinit。Comeinblack，blue，pink，white，orscarlet，asyoulike。Comeshabbyorsmart，neitherthecolournortheconditionsignifies；providedonlythedresscontainE——，allwillberight。\"
Buttherecamethefirstofaseriesofdisappointmentstobeborne。Onefeelshowsharpitmusthavebeentohavewrungoutthefollowingwords。
\"May20th。
\"Yourletterofyesterdaydidindeedgivemeacruelchillofdisappointment。Icannotblameyou，forIknowitwasnotyourfault。Idonotaltogetherexempt——fromreproach……Thisisbitter，butIfeelbitter。AstogoingtoB——，IwillnotgoneartheplacetillyouhavebeentoHaworth。Myrespectstoallandsundry，accompaniedwithalargeamountofwormwoodandgall，fromtheeffusionofwhichyouandyourmotherarealoneexcepted——C。B。
\"YouarequiteatlibertytotellwhatIthink，ifyoujudgeproper。ThoughitistrueImaybesomewhatunjust，forIamdeeplyannoyed。IthoughtIhadarrangedyourvisittolerablycomfortableforyouthistime。Imayfinditmoredifficultonanotheroccasion。\"
Imustgiveonesentencefromaletterwrittenaboutthistime，asitshowsdistinctlytheclearstrongsenseofthewriter。
\"Iwasamusedbywhatshesaysrespectingherwishthat，whenshemarries，herhusbandwill，atleast，haveawillofhisown，evenshouldhebeatyrant。Tellher，whensheformsthataspirationagain，shemustmakeitconditionalifherhusbandhasastrongwill，hemustalsohavestrongsense，akindheart，andathoroughlycorrectnotionofjustice；becauseamanwithaWEAK
BRAINandaSTRONGWILL，ismerelyanintractablebrute；youcanhavenoholdofhim；youcanneverleadhimright。ATYRANTunderanycircumstancesisacurse。\"
Meanwhile，\"TheProfessor\"hadmetwithmanyrefusalsfromdifferentpublishers；some，Ihavereasontobelieve，notover-courteouslywordedinwritingtoanunknownauthor，andnonealleginganydistinctreasonsforitsrejection。Courtesyisalwaysdue；butitis，perhaps，hardlytobeexpectedthat，inthepressofbusinessinagreatpublishinghouse，theyshouldfindtimetoexplainwhytheydeclineparticularworks。Yet，thoughonecourseofactionisnottobewonderedat，theoppositemayfalluponagrievedanddisappointedmindwithallthegraciousnessofdew；andIcanwellsympathisewiththepublishedaccountwhich\"CurrerBell\"gives，ofthefeelingsexperiencedonreadingMessrs。SmithandElder’slettercontainingtherejectionof\"TheProfessor\"。
\"Asaforlornhope，wetriedonepublishinghousemore。Erelong，inamuchshorterspacethanthatonwhichexperiencehadtaughthimtocalculate，therecamealetter，whichheopenedinthedrearyanticipationoffindingtwohardhopelesslines，intimatingthat\"Messrs。SmithandElderwerenotdisposedtopublishtheMS。，\"and，instead，hetookoutoftheenvelopealetteroftwopages。Hereadittrembling。Itdeclined，indeed，topublishthattale，forbusinessreasons，butitdiscusseditsmeritsanddemerits，socourteously，soconsiderately，inaspiritsorational，withadiscriminationsoenlightened，thatthisveryrefusalcheeredtheauthorbetterthanavulgarly-expressedacceptancewouldhavedone。Itwasadded，thataworkinthreevolumeswouldmeetwithcarefulattention。\"
Mr。Smithhastoldmealittlecircumstanceconnectedwiththereceptionofthismanuscript，whichseemstomeindicativeofnoordinarycharacter。Itcameaccompaniedbythenotegivenbelow
inabrownpaperparcel，to65Cornhill。BesidestheaddresstoMessrs。SmithandCo。，therewereonitthoseofotherpublisherstowhomthetalehadbeensent，notobliterated，butsimplyscoredthrough，sothatMessrs。Smithatonceperceivedthenamesofsomeofthehousesinthetradetowhichtheunluckyparcelhadgone，withoutsuccess。
ToMESSRS。SMITHANDELDER。
\"July15th，1847。
\"Gentlemen——Ibegtosubmittoyourconsiderationtheaccompanyingmanuscript。Ishouldbegladtolearnwhetheritbesuchasyouapprove，andwouldundertaketopublishatasearlyaperiodaspossible。Address，Mr。CurrerBell，undercovertoMissBronte，Haworth，Bradford，Yorkshire。\"
Sometimeelapsedbeforeananswerwasreturned。
Alittlecircumstancemaybementionedhere，thoughitbelongstoasomewhatearlierperiod，asshowingMissBronte’sinexperienceofthewaysoftheworld，andwillingdeferencetotheopinionofothers。Shehadwrittentoapublisheraboutoneofhermanuscripts，whichshehadsenthim，and，notreceivinganyreply，sheconsultedherbrotherastowhatcouldbethereasonfortheprolongedsilence。Heatoncesetitdowntohernothavingenclosedapostage-stampinherletter。Sheaccordinglywroteagain，torepairherformeromission，andapologiseforit。
ToMESSRS。SMITHANDELDER。
\"August2nd，1847。
\"Gentlemen，——Aboutthreeweekssince，IsentforyourconsiderationaMS。entitled\"TheProfessor\"，atalebyCurrerBell。Ishouldbegladtoknowwhetheritreachedyourhandssafely，andlikewisetolearn，atyourearliestconvenience，whetheritbesuchasyoucanundertaketopublish——Iam，gentlemen，yoursrespectfully，\"CURRERBELL。
\"Iencloseadirectedcoverforyourreply。\"
Thistimehernotemetwithapromptanswer；for，fourdayslater，shewritesinreplytotheletterwhichsheafterwardscharacterisedinthePrefacetothesecondeditionof\"WutheringHeights\"，ascontainingarefusalsodelicate，reasonable，andcourteous，astobemorecheeringthansomeacceptances:
\"Yourobjectiontothewantofvariedinterestinthetaleis，I
amaware，notwithoutgrounds；yetitappearstomethatitmightbepublishedwithoutseriousrisk，ifitsappearancewerespeedilyfollowedupbyanotherworkfromthesamepen，ofamorestrikingandexcitingcharacter。Thefirstworkmightserveasanintroduction，andaccustomthepublictotheauthor’sthesuccessofthesecondmighttherebyberenderedmoreprobable。Ihaveasecondnarrativeinthreevolumes，nowinprogress，andnearlycompleted，towhichIhaveendeavouredtoimpartamorevividinterestthanbelongsto\"TheProfessor\"。InaboutamonthIhopetofinishit，sothatifapublisherwerefoundfor\"TheProfessor\"，thesecondnarrativemightfollowassoonaswasdeemedadvisable；andthustheinterestofthepublicifanyinterestwasarousedmightnotbesufferedtocool。Willyoubekindenoughtofavourmewithyourjudgmentonthisplan？\"
Whilethemindsofthethreesisterswereinthisstateofsuspense，theirlong-expectedfriendcametopayherpromisedvisit。ShewaswiththematthebeginningoftheglowingAugustofthatyear。Theywereoutonthemoorsforthegreaterpartofthedaybaskinginthegoldensunshine，whichwasbringingonanunusualplenteousnessofharvest，forwhich，somewhatlater，Charlotteexpressedherearnestdesirethatthereshouldbeathanksgivingserviceinallthechurches。AugustwastheseasonofgloryfortheneighbourhoodofHaworth。Eventhesmoke，lyinginthevalleybetweenthatvillageandKeighley，tookbeautyfromtheradiantcoloursonthemoorsabove，therichpurpleoftheheatherbloomcallingoutanharmoniouscontrastinthetawnygoldenlightthat，inthefullheatofsummerevenings，comesstealingeverywherethroughthedunatmosphereofthehollows。
Andup，onthemoors，turningawayfromallhabitationsofmen，theroyalgroundonwhichtheystoodwouldexpandintolongswellsofamethyst-tintedhills，meltingawayintoaerialtints；
andthefreshandfragrantscentoftheheather，andthe\"murmurofinnumerablebees，\"wouldlendapoignancytotherelishwithwhichtheywelcomedtheirfriendtotheirowntruehomeonthewildandopenhills。
There，too，theycouldescapefromtheShadowinthehousebelow。
Throughoutthistime——duringalltheseconfidences——notawordwasutteredtotheirfriendofthethreetalesinLondon；twoacceptedandinthepress——onetremblinginthebalanceofapublisher’sjudgment；nordidshehearofthatotherstory\"nearlycompleted，\"lyinginmanuscriptinthegreyoldparsonagedownbelow。Shemighthavehersuspicionsthattheyallwrotewithanintentionofpublicationsometime；butsheknewtheboundswhichtheysettothemselvesintheircommunications；norcouldshe，norcananyoneelse，wonderattheirreticence，whenrememberinghowschemeafterschemehadfailed，justasitseemedcloseuponaccomplishment。
Mr。Bronte，too，hadhissuspicionsofsomethinggoingon；but，neverbeingspokento，hedidnotspeakonthesubject，andconsequentlyhisideaswerevagueanduncertain，onlyjustpropheticenoughtokeephimfrombeingactuallystunnedwhen，lateron，heheardofthesuccessof\"JaneEyre\"；totheprogressofwhichwemustnowreturn。
ToMESSRS。SMITHANDELDER。
\"August24th。
\"InowsendyouperrailaMS。entitled’JaneEyre，’anovelinthreevolumes，byCurrerBell。IfindIcannotprepaythecarriageoftheparcel，asmoneyforthatpurposeisnotreceivedatthesmallstation-housewhereitisleft。If，whenyouacknowledgethereceiptoftheMS。，youwouldhavethegoodnesstomentiontheamountchargedondelivery，Iwillimmediatelytransmititinpostagestamps。ItisbetterinfuturetoaddressMr。CurrerBell，undercovertoMissBronte，Haworth，Bradford，Yorkshire，asthereisariskoflettersotherwisedirectednotreachingmeatpresent。Tosavetrouble，Iencloseanenvelope。\"
\"JaneEyre\"wasaccepted，andprintedandpublishedbyOctober16th。
Whileitwasinthepress，MissBrontewenttopayashortvisittoherfriendatB。Theproofswereforwardedtoherthere，andsheoccasionallysatatthesametablewithherfriend，correctingthem；buttheydidnotexchangeawordonthesubject。
ImmediatelyonherreturntotheParsonage，shewrote:
\"September。
\"Ihadaverywet，windywalkhomefromKeighley；butmyfatiguequitedisappearedwhenIreachedhome，andfoundallwell。ThankGodforit。
\"Myboxescamesafethismorning。Ihavedistributedthepresents。PapasaysIamtorememberhimmostkindlytoyou。Thescreenwillbeveryuseful，andhethanksyouforit。Tabbywascharmedwithhercap。Shesaid，’sheneverthoughto’naughto’
t’sortasMisssendingheraught，and，sheissure，shecanneverthankherenoughforit。’Iwasinfuriatedonfindingajarinmytrunk。Atfirst，Ihopeditwasempty，butwhenIfounditheavyandreplete，IcouldhavehurleditallthewaybacktoB。However，theinscriptionA。B。softenedmemuch。Itwasatoncekindandvillainousinyoutosendit。Yououghtfirsttobetenderlykissed，andthenafterwardsastenderlywhipped。Emilyisjustnowonthefloorofthebed-roomwhereIamwriting，lookingatherapples。ShesmiledwhenIgavethecollartoherasyourpresent，withanexpressionatoncewell-pleasedandslightlysurprised。Allsendtheirlove——Yours，inamixtureofangerandlove。\"
Whenthemanuscriptof\"JaneEyre\"hadbeenreceivedbythefuturepublishersofthatremarkablenovel，itfelltotheshareofagentlemanconnectedwiththefirmtoreaditfirst。Hewassopowerfullystruckbythecharacterofthetale，thathereportedhisimpressioninverystrongtermstoMr。Smith，whoappearstohavebeenmuchamusedbytheadmirationexcited。\"Youseemtohavebeensoenchanted，thatIdonotknowhowtobelieveyou，\"helaughinglysaid。Butwhenasecondreader，inthepersonofaclear-headedScotchman，notgiventoenthusiasm，hadtakentheMS。homeintheevening，andbecamesodeeplyinterestedinit，astosituphalfthenighttofinishit，Mr。Smith’scuriositywassufficientlyexcitedtoprompthimtoreaditforhimself；andgreataswerethepraiseswhichhadbeenbestoweduponit，hefoundthattheyhadnotexceededthetruth。
Onitspublication，copieswerepresentedtoafewprivateliteraryfriends。Theirdiscernmenthadbeenrightlyreckonedupon。Theywereofconsiderablestandingintheworldofletters；
andoneandallreturnedexpressionsofhighpraisealongwiththeirthanksforthebook。AmongthemwasthegreatwriteroffictionforwhomMissBrontefeltsostronganadmiration；heimmediatelyappreciated，and，inacharacteristicnotetothepublishers，acknowledgeditsextraordinarymerits。
TheReviewsweremoretardy，ormorecautious。TheAthenaeumandtheSpectatorgaveshortnotices，containingqualifiedadmissionsofthepoweroftheauthor。TheLiteraryGazettewasuncertainastowhetheritwassafetopraiseanunknownauthor。TheDailyNewsdeclinedacceptingthecopywhichhadbeensent，onthescoreofarule\"nevertoreviewnovels；\"butalittlelateron，thereappearedanoticeoftheBacheloroftheAlbanyinthatpaper；andMessrs。SmithandElderagainforwardedacopyof\"JaneEyre\"totheEditor，witharequestforanotice。Thistimetheworkwasaccepted；butIamnotawarewhatwasthecharacterofthearticleuponit。
TheExaminercameforwardtotherescue，asfarastheopinionsofprofessionalcriticswereconcerned。Theliteraryarticlesinthatpaperwerealwaysremarkablefortheirgenialandgenerousappreciationofmeritnorwasthenoticeof\"JaneEyre\"anexception；itwasfullofhearty，yetdelicateanddiscriminatingpraise。Otherwise，thepressingeneraldidlittletopromotethesaleofthenovel；thedemandforitamonglibrarianshadbegunbeforetheappearanceofthereviewintheExaminer；thepoweroffascinationofthetaleitselfmadeitsmeritsknowntothepublic，withoutthekindlyfinger-postsofprofessionalcriticism；and，earlyinDecember，therushbeganforcopies。
IwillinserttwoorthreeofMissBronte’sletterstoherpublishers，inordertoshowhowtimidlytheideaofsuccesswasreceivedbyonesounaccustomedtoadoptasanguineviewofanysubjectinwhichshewasindividuallyconcerned。Theoccasionsonwhichthesenoteswerewritten，willexplainthemselves。
\"Oct。19th，1847。
\"Gentlemen，——Thesixcopiesof\"JaneEyre\"reachedmethismorning。Youhavegiventheworkeveryadvantagewhichgoodpaper，cleartype，andaseemlyoutsidecansupply；——ifitfails，thefaultwillliewiththeauthor，——youareexempt。
\"Inowawaitthejudgmentofthepressandthepublic——Iam，Gentlemen，yoursrespectfully，C。BELL。\"
MESSRS。SMITH，ELDER，ANDCO。
\"Oct。26th，1847。
\"Gentlemen，——Ihavereceivedthenewspapers。Theyspeakquiteasfavourablyof\"JaneEyre\"asIexpectedthemtodo。ThenoticeintheLiteraryGazetteseemscertainlytohavebeeninditedinratheraflatmood，andtheAthenaeumhasastyleofitsown，whichIrespect，butcannotexactlyrelish；stillwhenoneconsidersthatjournalsofthatstandinghaveadignitytomaintainwhichwouldbederangedbyatoocordialrecognitionoftheclaimsofanobscureauthor，Isupposethereiseveryreasontobesatisfied。
\"Meantimeabrisksalewouldbeeffectualsupportunderthehauteurofloftycritics——Iam，Gentlemen，yoursrespectfully，\"C。BELL。\"
MESSRS。SMITH，ELDER，ANDCO。
\"Nov。13th，1847。
\"Gentlemen，——Ihavetoacknowledgethereceiptofyoursofthe11thinst。，andtothankyoufortheinformationitcommunicates。
ThenoticefromthePeople’sJournalalsodulyreachedme，andthismorningIreceivedtheSpectator。ThecritiqueintheSpectatorgivesthatviewofthebookwhichwillnaturallybetakenbyacertainclassofminds；Ishallexpectittobefollowedbyothernoticesofasimilarnature。Thewaytodetractionhasbeenpointedout，andwillprobablybepursued。
MostfuturenoticeswillinalllikelihoodhaveareflectionoftheSpectatorinthem。Ifearthisturnofopinionwillnotimprovethedemandforthebook——buttimewillshow。If\"JaneEyre\"hasanysolidworthinit，itoughttoweatheragustofunfavourablewind——Iam，Gentlemen，yoursrespectfully，\"C。BELL。\"
MESSRS。SMITH，ELDER，ANDCO。
\"Nov。30th，1847。
\"Gentlemen，——IhavereceivedtheEconomist，butnottheExaminer；
fromsomecausethatpaperhasmissed，astheSpectatordidonaformeroccasion；Iamglad，however，tolearnthroughyourletter，thatitsnoticeof\"JaneEyre\"wasfavourable，andalsothattheprospectsoftheworkappeartoimprove。
\"Iamobligedtoyoufortheinformationrespecting\"WutheringHeights\"——Iam，Gentlemen，yoursrespectfully，\"C。BELL。\"
ToMESSRS。SMITH，ELDER，ANDCO。
\"Dec。1st，1847。
\"Gentlemen，——TheExaminerreachedmeto-day；ithadbeenmissentonaccountofthedirection，whichwastoCurrerBell，careofMissBronte。AllowmetointimatethatitwouldbebetterinfuturenottoputthenameofCurrerBellontheoutsideofcommunications；ifdirectedsimplytoMissBrontetheywillbemorelikelytoreachtheirdestinationsafely。CurrerBellisnotknowninthedistrict，andIhavenowishthatheshouldbecomeknown。ThenoticeintheExaminergratifiedmeverymuch；itappearstobefromthepenofanablemanwhohasunderstoodwhatheundertakestocriticise；ofcourse，approbationfromsuchaquarterisencouragingtoanauthor，andItrustitwillprovebeneficialtothework——Iam，Gentlemen，yoursrespectfully，C。BELL。
\"Ireceivedlikewisesevenothernoticesfromprovincialpapersenclosedinanenvelope。Ithankyouverysincerelyforsopunctuallysendingmeallthevariouscriticismson\"JaneEyre\"。\"
TOMESSRS。SMITH，ELDER，ANDCO。
\"Dec。10th，1847。
\"Gentlemen，——Ibegtoacknowledgethereceiptofyourletterinclosingabankpostbill，forwhichIthankyou。Havingalreadyexpressedmysenseofyourkindanduprightconduct，IcannowonlysaythatItrustyouwillalwayshavereasontobeaswellcontentwithmeasIamwithyou。IftheresultofanyfutureexertionsImaybeabletomakeshouldproveagreeableandadvantageoustoyou，Ishallbewellsatisfied；anditwouldbeaserioussourceofregrettomeifIthoughtyoueverhadreasontorepentbeingmypublishers。
\"Youneednotapologise，Gentlemen，forhavingwrittentomesoseldom；ofcourseIamalwaysgladtohearfromyou，butIamtrulygladtohearfromMr。Williamslikewise；hewasmyfirstfavourablecritic；hefirstgavemeencouragementtopersevereasanauthor，consequentlyInaturallyrespecthimandfeelgratefultohim。
\"Excusetheinformalityofmyletter，andbelieveme，Gentlemen，yoursrespectfully，CURRERBELL。\"
Thereislittlerecordremainingofthemannerinwhichthefirstnewsofitswonderfulsuccessreachedandaffectedtheoneheartofthethreesisters。IonceaskedCharlotte——weweretalkingaboutthedescriptionofLowoodschool，andshewassayingthatshewasnotsurewhethersheshouldhavewrittenit，ifshehadbeenawarehowinstantaneouslyitwouldhavebeenidentifiedwithCowanBridge——whetherthepopularitytowhichthenovelattainedhadtakenherbysurprise。Shehesitatedalittle，andthensaid:
\"IbelievedthatwhathadimpressedmesoforciblywhenIwroteit，mustmakeastrongimpressiononanyonewhoreadit。Iwasnotsurprisedatthosewhoread\"JaneEyre\"beingdeeplyinterestedinit；butIhardlyexpectedthatabookbyanunknownauthorcouldfindreaders。\"
Thesistershadkepttheknowledgeoftheirliteraryventuresfromtheirfather，fearingtoincreasetheirownanxietiesanddisappointmentbywitnessinghis；forhetookanacuteinterestinallthatbefellhischildren，andhisowntendencyhadbeentowardsliteratureinthedayswhenhewasyoungandhopeful。Itwastruehedidnotmuchmanifesthisfeelingsinwords；hewouldhavethoughtthathewaspreparedfordisappointmentasthelotofman，andthathecouldhavemetitwithstoicism；butwordsarepoorandtardyinterpretersoffeelingstothosewholoveoneanother，andhisdaughtersknewhowhewouldhaveborneill-successworseforthemthanforhimself。Sotheydidnottellhimwhattheywereundertaking。Hesaysnowthathesuspecteditallalong，buthissuspicionscouldtakenoexactform，asallhewascertainofwas，thathischildrenwereperpetuallywriting——andnotwritingletters。Wehaveseenhowthecommunicationsfromtheirpublisherswerereceived\"undercovertoMissBronte。\"Once，Charlottetoldme，theyoverheardthepostmanmeetingMr。Bronte，asthelatterwasleavingthehouse，andinquiringfromtheparsonwhereoneCurrerBellcouldbeliving，towhichMr。Bronterepliedthattherewasnosuchpersonintheparish。ThismusthavebeenthemisadventuretowhichMissBrontealludesinthebeginningofhercorrespondencewithMr。
Aylott。
Now，however，whenthedemandfortheworkhadassuredsuccessto\"JaneEyre，\"hersistersurgedCharlottetotelltheirfatherofitspublication。Sheaccordinglywentintohisstudyoneafternoonafterhisearlydinner，carryingwithheracopyofthebook，andoneortworeviews，takingcaretoincludeanoticeadversetoit。
Sheinformedmethatsomethinglikethefollowingconversationtookplacebetweenherandhim。IwrotedownherwordsthedayafterIheardthem；andIamprettysuretheyarequiteaccurate。
\"Papa，I’vebeenwritingabook。\"
\"Haveyou，mydear？\"
\"Yes，andIwantyoutoreadit。\"
\"Iamafraiditwilltrymyeyestoomuch。\"
\"Butitisnotinmanuscript:itisprinted。\"
\"Mydear！you’veneverthoughtoftheexpenseitwillbe！Itwillbealmostsuretobealoss，forhowcanyougetabooksold？Nooneknowsyouoryourname。\"
\"But，papa，Idon’tthinkitwillbealoss；nomorewillyou，ifyouwilljustletmereadyouareviewortwo，andtellyoumoreaboutit。\"
Soshesatedownandreadsomeofthereviewstoherfather；andthen，givinghimthecopyof\"JaneEyre\"thatsheintendedforhim，shelefthimtoreadit。Whenhecameintotea，hesaid，\"Girls，doyouknowCharlottehasbeenwritingabook，anditismuchbetterthanlikely？\"
ButwhiletheexistenceofCurrerBell，theauthor，waslikeapieceofadreamtothequietinhabitantsofHaworthParsonage，whowentonwiththeiruniformhouseholdlife，——theircaresfortheirbrotherbeingitsonlyvariety，——thewholereading-worldofEnglandwasinafermenttodiscovertheunknownauthor。Eventhepublishersof\"JaneEyre\"wereignorantwhetherCurrerBellwasarealoranassumedname，——whetheritbelongedtoamanorawoman。Ineverytownpeoplesoughtoutthelistoftheirfriendsandacquaintances，andturnedawayindisappointment。Noonetheyknewhadgeniusenoughtobetheauthor。Everylittleincidentmentionedinthebookwasturnedthiswayandthattoanswer，ifpossible，themuch-vexedquestionofsex。Allinvain。Peoplewerecontenttorelaxtheirexertionstosatisfytheircuriosity，andsimplytositdownandgreatlyadmire。
Iamnotgoingtowriteananalysisofabookwithwhicheveryonewhoreadsthisbiographyissuretobeacquainted；muchlessacriticismuponawork，whichthegreatfloodofpublicopinionhasliftedupfromtheobscurityinwhichitfirstappeared，andlaidhighandsafeontheeverlastinghillsoffame。
Beforemeliesapacketofextractsfromnewspapersandperiodicals，whichMr。Brontehassentme。Itistouchingtolookthemover，andseehowthereishardlyanynotice，howevershortandclumsily-worded，inanyobscureprovincialpaper，butwhathasbeencutoutandcarefullyticketedwithitsdatebythepoor，bereavedfather，——soproudwhenhefirstreadthem——sodesolatenow。Foroneandallarefullofpraiseofthisgreat，unknowngenius，whichsuddenlyappearedamongstus。Conjectureastotheauthorshipranaboutlikewild-fire。PeopleinLondon，smoothandpolishedastheAtheniansofold，andlikethem\"spendingtheirtimeinnothingelse，buteithertotellortohearsomenewthing，\"wereastonishedanddelightedtofindthatafreshsensation，anewpleasure，wasinreserveforthemintheuprisingofanauthor，capableofdepictingwithaccurateandTitanicpowerthestrong，self-reliant，racy，andindividualcharacterswhichwerenot，afterall，extinctspecies，butlingeredstillinexistenceintheNorth。Theythoughtthattherewassomeexaggerationmixedwiththepeculiarforceofdelineation。Thosenearertothespot，wherethesceneofthestorywasapparentlylaid，weresure，fromtheverytruthandaccuracyofthewriting，thatthewriterwasnoSoutheron；forthough\"dark，andcold，andruggedistheNorth，\"theoldstrengthoftheScandinavianracesyetabidesthere，andglowedoutineverycharacterdepictedin\"JaneEyre。\"Fartherthanthis，curiosity，bothhonourableanddishonourable，wasatfault。
Whenthesecondeditionappeared，intheJanuaryofthefollowingyear，withthededicationtoMr。Thackeray，peoplelookedateachotherandwonderedafresh。ButCurrerBellknewnomoreofWilliamMakepeaceThackerayasanindividualman——ofhislife，age，fortunes，orcircumstances——thanshedidofthoseofMr。
MichaelAngeloTitmarsh。Theonehadplacedhisnameasauthoruponthetitle-pageofVanityFair，theotherhadnot。Shewasthankfulfortheopportunityofexpressingherhighadmirationofawriter，whom，asshesays，sheregarded\"asthesocialregeneratorofhisday——astheverymasterofthatworkingcorpswhowouldrestoretorectitudethewarpedstateofthings……
Hiswitisbright，hishumourattractive，butbothbearthesamerelationtohisseriousgenius，thatthemerelambentsheet-lightning，playingundertheedgeofthesummercloud，doestotheelectricdeath-sparkhidinitswomb。\"
AnneBrontehadbeenmorethanusuallydelicateallthesummer，andhersensitivespirithadbeendeeplyaffectedbythegreatanxietyofherhome。Butnowthat\"JaneEyre\"gavesuchindicationsofsuccess，Charlottebegantoplanschemesoffuturepleasure，——perhapsrelaxationfromcare，wouldbethemorecorrectexpression，——fortheirdarlingyoungersister，the\"littleone\"ofthehousehold。But，althoughAnnewascheeredforatimebyCharlotte’ssuccess，thefactwas，thatneitherherspiritsnorherbodilystrengthweresuchastoinclinehertomuchactiveexertion，andsheledfartoosedentaryalife，continuallystoopingeitheroverherbook，orwork，oratherdesk。\"Itiswithdifficulty，\"writeshersister，\"thatwecanprevailuponhertotakeawalk，orinducehertoconverse。I
lookforwardtonextsummerwiththeconfidentintentionthatsheshall，ifpossible，makeatleastabriefsojournatthesea-side。\"Inthissameletter，isasentence，tellinghowdearlyhome，evenwithitspresentterribledrawback，layattherootsofherheart；butitistoomuchblendedwithreferencetotheaffairsofotherstobearquotation。
Anyauthorofasuccessfulnovelisliabletoaninroadoflettersfromunknownreaders，containingcommendation——sometimesofsofulsomeandindiscriminatingacharacterastoremindtherecipientofDr。Johnson’sfamousspeechtoonewhoofferedpresumptuousandinjudiciouspraise——sometimessayingmerelyafewwords，whichhavepowertostirtheheart\"aswiththesoundofatrumpet，\"andinthehighhumilitytheyexcite，tocallforthstrongresolutionstomakeallfutureeffortsworthyofsuchpraise；andoccasionallycontainingthattrueappreciationofbothmeritsanddemerits，togetherwiththesourcesofeach，whichformstheverycriticismandhelpforwhichaninexperiencedwriterthirsts。OfeachofthesekindsofcommunicationCurrerBellreceivedherfullshare；andherwarmheart，andtruesenseandhighstandardofwhatsheaimedat，affixedtoeachitstruevalue。Amongotherlettersofhers，sometoMr。G。H。Leweshavebeenkindlyplacedbyhimatmyservice；
andasIknowMissBrontehighlyprizedhislettersofencouragementandadvice，Ishallgiveextractsfromherreplies，astheirdatesoccur，becausetheywillindicatethekindofcriticismshevalued，andalsobecausethroughout，inanger，asinagreementandharmony，theyshowhercharacterunblindedbyanyself-flattery，fullofclear-sightedmodestyastowhatshereallydidwell，andwhatshefailedin，gratefulforfriendlyinterest，andonlysoreandirritablewhenthequestionofsexinauthorshipwas，asshethought，roughlyorunfairlytreated。Astotherest，thelettersspeakforthemselves，tothosewhoknowhowtolisten，farbetterthanIcaninterprettheirmeaningintomypoorerandweakerwords。Mr。Leweshaspolitelysentmethefollowingexplanationofthatletterofhis，towhichthesucceedingoneofMissBronteisareply。
\"When’JaneEyre’firstappeared，thepublisherscourteouslysentmeacopy。TheenthusiasmwithwhichIreadit，mademegodowntoMr。Parker，andproposetowriteareviewofitforFrazer’sMagazine。Hewouldnotconsenttoanunknownnovel——forthepapershadnotyetdeclaredthemselves——receivingsuchimportance，butthoughtitmightmakeoneon’RecentNovels:
EnglishandFrench’——whichappearedinFrazer，December，1847。
MeanwhileIhadwrittentoMissBrontetotellherthedelightwithwhichherbookfilledme；andseemtohavesermonisedher，tojudgefromherreply。\"
ToG。H。LEWES，ESQ。
\"Nov。6th，1847。
\"DearSir，——Yourletterreachedmeyesterday；Ibegtoassureyou，thatIappreciatefullytheintentionwithwhichitwaswritten，andIthankyousincerelybothforitscheeringcommendationandvaluableadvice。
\"Youwarnmetobewareofmelodrama，andyouexhortmetoadheretothereal。WhenIfirstbegantowrite，soimpressedwasIwiththetruthoftheprinciplesyouadvocate，thatIdeterminedtotakeNatureandTruthasmysoleguides，andtofollowintheirveryfootprints；Irestrainedimagination，eschewedromance，repressedexcitement；over-brightcolouring，too，Iavoided，andsoughttoproducesomethingwhichshouldbesoft，grave，andtrue。
\"Myworkataleinonevolumebeingcompleted，Iofferedittoapublisher。Hesaiditwasoriginal，faithfultonature，buthedidnotfeelwarrantedinacceptingit；suchaworkwouldnotsell。Itriedsixpublishersinsuccession；theyalltoldmeitwasdeficientin’startlingincident’and’thrillingexcitement，’
thatitwouldneversuitthecirculatinglibraries，and，asitwasonthoselibrariesthesuccessofworksoffictionmainlydepended，theycouldnotundertaketopublishwhatwouldbeoverlookedthere。
\"’JaneEyre’wasratherobjectedtoatfirst，onthesamegrounds，butfinallyfoundacceptance。
\"Imentionthistoyou，notwithaviewofpleadingexemptionfromcensure，butinordertodirectyourattentiontotherootofcertainliteraryevils。If，inyourforthcomingarticleinFrazer，youwouldbestowafewwordsofenlightenmentonthepublicwhosupportthecirculatinglibraries，youmight，withyourpowers，dosomegood。
\"Youadviseme，too，nottostrayfarfromthegroundofexperience，asIbecomeweakwhenIentertheregionoffiction；
andyousay，’realexperienceisperenniallyinteresting，andtoallmen。’
\"Ifeelthatthisalsoistrue；but，dearSir，isnottherealexperienceofeachindividualverylimited？And，ifawriterdwellsuponthatsolelyorprincipally，ishenotindangerofrepeatinghimself，andalsoofbecominganegotist？Then，too，imaginationisastrong，restlessfaculty，whichclaimstobeheardandexercised:arewetobequitedeaftohercry，andinsensatetoherstruggles？Whensheshowsusbrightpictures，arewenevertolookatthem，andtrytoreproducethem？Andwhensheiseloquent，andspeaksrapidlyandurgentlyinourear，arewenottowritetoherdictation？
\"IshallanxiouslysearchthenextnumberofFraserforyouropinionsonthesepoints——Believeme，dearSir，yoursgratefully，\"C。BELL。\"
Butwhilegratifiedbyappreciationasanauthor，shewascautiousastothepersonfromwhomshereceivedit；formuchofthevalueofthepraisedependedonthesincerityandcapabilityofthepersonrenderingit。Accordingly，sheappliedtoMr。
Williamsagentlemanconnectedwithherpublishers’firmforinformationastowhoandwhatMr。Leweswas。Herreply，aftershehadlearntsomethingofthecharacterofherfuturecritic，andwhileawaitinghiscriticism，mustnotbeomitted。Besidesthereferencetohim，itcontainssomeamusingallusionstotheperplexitywhichbegantobeexcitedrespectingthe\"identityofthebrothersBell，\"andsomenoticeoftheconductofanotherpublishertowardshersister，whichIrefrainfromcharacterising，becauseIunderstandthattruthisconsideredalibelinspeakingofsuchpeople。
ToW。S。WILLIAMS，ESQ。
\"Nov。10th，1847。
\"DearSir，——IhavereceivedtheBritanniaandtheSun，butnottheSpectatorwhichIratherregret，ascensure，thoughnotpleasant，isoftenwholesome。
\"ThankyouforyourinformationregardingMr。Lewes。Iamgladtohearthatheisacleverandsincereman:suchbeingthecase，I
canawaithiscriticalsentencewithfortitude；evenifitgoesagainstme，Ishallnotmurmur；abilityandhonestyhavearighttocondemn，wheretheythinkcondemnationisdeserved。Fromwhatyousay，however，Itrustrathertoobtainatleastamodifiedapproval。
\"YouraccountofthevarioussurmisesrespectingtheidentityofthebrothersBell，amusedmemuch:weretheenigmasolved，itwouldprobablybefoundnotworththetroubleofsolution；butI
willletitalone；itsuitsourselvestoremainquiet，andcertainlyinjuresnooneelse。
\"Thereviewerwhonoticedthelittlebookofpoems，intheDublinMagazine，conjecturedthatthesoi-disantthreepersonageswereinrealitybutone，who，endowedwithanundulyprominentorganofself-esteem，andconsequentlyimpressedwithasomewhatweightynotionofhisownmerits，thoughtthemtoovasttobeconcentratedinasingleindividual，andaccordinglydividedhimselfintothree，outofconsideration，Isuppose，forthenervesofthemuch-to-be-astoundedpublic！Thiswasaningeniousthoughtinthereviewer，——veryoriginalandstriking，butnotaccurate。Wearethree。