Charlotte Brontë and her circle

Preface

Tr is claimed for the following book of some five hundred pages that the larger part of it is an addition of entirely new material to the romantic story of the Brontés. For this result, but very small credit is due to me; and my very hearty acknowledgments must be made, in the first place, to the Rev. Arthur Bell Nicholls, for whose generous surrender of personal inclination I must ever be grateful. It has been with extreme unwillingness that Mr. Nicholls has broken the silence of forty years, and he would not even now have consented to the publication of certain letters concerning his marriage, had he not been aware that these letters were already privately printed and in the hands of not less than eight or ten people. To Miss Ellen Nussey of Gomersall, I have also to render thanks for having placed the many letters in her possession at my disposal, and for having furnished a great deal of interesting information. Without the letters from Charlotte Bronté to Mr. W. S. Williams, which were kindly lent to me by Vv his son and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Baumer Williams, my book would have been the poorer. Sir Wemyss Reid, Mr. J. J. Stead, of Heckmondwike, Mr. Butler Wood, of Bradford, Mr. W. W. Yates, of Dewsbury, Mr. Erskine Stuart, Mr. Buxton Forman, and Mr. Thomas J. Wise are among the many Bronté specialists who have helped me with advice or with the loan of material. Mr. Wise, in particular, has lent me many valuable manuscripts. Finally, I have to thank my friend Dr, Robertson Nicoll for the kindly pressure which has practically compelled me to prepare this little volume amid a multitude of journalistic duties.

CLEMENT K. SHORTER.

198 StrAND, Lonpon, September 1st, 1896.

A BRONTE CHRONOLOGY

Curacy at Hartshead-cum-Clifton . . . . .. +... «. 1811 ublishes! "Cottage Poems’ (Halifax) . © / . «+ « . + 1811

Marned: to Maria Branwell 9... ..%. + a» « » 18 Dec., 1812 First Child, NiariamDOLNe pe unt tea othe Ga iene 1818 ablushes “ihe! Rural Minstrel? <. . 5. . » » ss « « 1818 Elizabeth born... . 5 RAS yh ome ee!

Publishes ‘The Cottage in ike Wood! Me hts. | S15 Curacy at Thornton . . Pale eh eek tacis. oo LB LG Charlotte Bronté born at Thornton pete ete cee et, 21. April; 1816 atrigns bran well Drone: DOLMta. «jl sees « , % co se L8LT Emily Jane Bronté born. . . ee Mrs, gcd >> 1s LOLS ‘The Maid of Killarney ’ published. Sh nego LO WO ce eipioeare mee areca: FARRER ETONLO MOOD, sis awry Mea ea es Feo ae jot oc st. 1819 Removal to Incumbency of Haworth .... February, 1820 Mirereksrontc dic he. vw. 5 2 4s tra ee vw LO September, 1821 Maria and Elizabeth Bronté at Cowan Bridge . . . . July, 1824 Charlotte and Emily Bronté at Cowan Bridge . . September, 1824 Peameswowan Bridge: fa ees. Wes oS one 1825 memerauronie dies 4 Fo he Ney 6 tee 1825 ix

Elizabeth Bronté dies... . 3) 9) ele oe Omen Sey Charlotte Bronté at School, Roe Heal ts «a eeanuary, 1851 Leaves Roe Head School. . . . . - te Eee: Meee Soe

First Visit to Ellen Nussey at ‘The Rhydings . « September, 1832 Returns to Roe Head as governess . . . «. . « . 29 July, 1835

Branwell visits London . . és ova Prishp abel neem mete e LD OD Emily spends three months at Roe Head, when Anne takes her

place and she returns home . . . .... . . + = 1885 Ellen ‘Nussey visits Haworth in Holidays. . . . . . July, 1836 Miss Wooler’s School removed to Dewsbury Moor . . . . 1836 Emily at a School at Halifax for six months (Miss Patchet of

Law_ Hill), c-sja ees . Bete ie lee ot xy OED

First Proposal of Marriage fabio N naaay: a) Seevarch, 1889 Anne Bronté becomes governess at Blake Hall, Mrs. Ing- Wiarn’ S!29- 9 oie) eens ar Si saree ges ttl A Oe Charlotte governess at Mrs. Sidewick’s at Stonegappe, and at . Swarcliffe, Harrogate .. . Tele eet eh. Lae Oe Second Proposal of Marriage (Mr. Price) Pilar. oa LeS Charlotte and Emily at Haworth, Anne at Blake Hall . . . 1840

Charlotte’s second situation as governess with Mrs. White,

Upperwood House, Rawdon . . . ieee) search; 1840 Charlotte and Emily go to School at re . . February, 1842 Miss Branwell died at Haworth . . . .. . . . 29 Oct., 1842 Charlotte and Emily return to Haworth . . . . . . Nov., 1842 Charlotte returns to Brussels . ..... .. - ~~ dan, 1843 Returns to’ Haworth 200) 5) sueeeen rennet ene een oat Anne and Branwell at Thorp Green . . . «~~. + + 1845 Charlotte visits Mary Taylor at Hounsden . . ... . « 1845 Visits Miss Nussey at Brookroyd. . . . . Pe ww LOA

Publication of Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Loe Bell . . . 1846 Charlotte Bronté visits Manchester with her father for him to

see an Oculist . . . . - a SOAs ine ‘Jane Eyre’ published (Smith § & E Elder) orice dea Tatra MCU, adeew,

A BRONTE CHRONOLOGY

‘Wuthering Heights’ and ‘Agnes Grey’ (Newby) Charlotte and Emily visit London

‘Tenant of Wildfell Hall’

Branwell died. . .

Emily died... .

Anne Bronté died at Scarboro’

esuirley.” published. ~. =. . . : ; Visit to London, tirst meeting with Thacker ay . Visit to London, sits for Portrait to Richmond . Third Offer of Marriage (James Taylor) .

- Visit to London for Exhibition ee eae peblshed, 2 <5) GA.

Visit to London . eee nes

Visit to Manchester to Mrs. Gaskell

MartiagG= 40. ws ee

PRELIMINARY.

MRS. GASKELL.

In the whole of English biographical literature there is no book that can compare in wide-spread interest with the ‘Life of Charlotte Bronté’ by Mrs. Gaskell. It has held a position of singular popularity for forty years; and while biography after biography has come and gone, it still commands a place side by side with Boswell’s ‘ Johnson’ and Lockhart’s ‘Scott.’ As far as mere readers are concerned, it may indeed claim its hundreds as against the tens of intrinsically more important rivals. There are obvious reasons for this success. Mrs. Gaskell was herself a popular novelist, who commanded a very wide audience, and ‘Cranford,’ at least, has taken a place among the classics of our literature. She brought to bear upon the biography of Charlotte Bronté all those literary gifts which had made the charm of her seven volumes of romance. And these gifts were employed upon a romance of real life, not less fascinating than anything which imagination could have furnished. Charlotte Bronté’s success as an author turned the eyes of the world upon her. Thackeray had sent her his ‘ Vanity Fair’ before he knew her name or sex. The precious volume lies before me — lode Mes 9 tatefeal lg and bateaterny

Jb M5 VEGF.

And Thackeray did not send many inscribed copies of his books even to successful authors. Speculation concerning 1 1 the author of ‘Jane Eyre’ was sufficiently rife during those seven sad years of literary renown to make a biography imperative when death came to Charlotte Bronté in 1855. All the world had heard something of the three marvellous sisters, daughters of a poor parson in Yorkshire, going one after another to their death with such melancholy swiftness, but leaving — two of them, at least — imperishable work behind them. The old blind father and the bereaved husband read the confused eulogy and criticism, sometimes with a sad pleasure at the praise, oftener with a sadder pain at the grotesque inaccuracy. Small wonder that it became unpressed upon Mr. Bronté’s mind that an authoritative biography was desirable. His son-in-law, Mr. Arthur Bell Nicholls, who lived with him in the Haworth parsonage during the six weary years which succeeded Mrs. Nicholls’s death, was not so readily won to the unveiling of his wife’s inner life; and although we, who read Mrs. Gaskell’s ‘Memoir,’ have every reason to be thankful for Mr. Bronté’s decision, peace of mind would undoubtedly have been more assured to Charlotte Bronté’s surviving relatives had the most rigid silence been maintained. The book, when it appeared in 1857, gave infinite pain to a number of people, including Mr. Bronté and Mr. Nicholls; and Mrs. Gaskell’s subsequent experiences had the effect of persuading her that all biographical literature was intolerable and undesirable. She would seem to have given instructions that no biography of herself should be written; and now that. thirty years have passed since her death we have no substantial record of one of the most fascinating women of her age. The loss to literature has been forcibly brought home to the present writer, who has in his possession a bundle of letters written by Mrs. Gaskell to numerous friends of Charlotte Bronté during the progress of the biography. They serve, all of them, to impress one with the singular charm of the woman, her humanity and breadth of sympathy.

They make us think better of Mrs. Gaskell, as Thackeray's letters to Mrs. Brookfield make us think better of the author of ‘Vanity Fair.’

Apart from these letters, a journey in the footsteps, as it were, of Mrs. Gaskell, reveals to us the remarkable conscientiousness with which she set about her task. It would have been possible, with so much fame behind her, to have secured an equal success, and certainly an equal pecuniary reward, had she merely written a brief monograph with such material as was voluntarily placed in her hands. Mrs. Gaskell possessed a higher ideal of a_ biographer’s duties. She spared no pains to find out the facts; she visited every spot associated with the name of Charlotte Bronté— Thornton, Haworth, Cowan Bridge, Birstail, Brussels — and she wrote countless letters to the friends of Charlotte Bronté’s earlier days.

But why, it may be asked, was Mrs. Gaskell selected as biographer? The choice was made by Mr. Bronté, and not, as has been suggested, by some outside influence. When Mr. Bronté had once decided that there should be an authoritative biography —and he alone was active in the matter —there could be but little doubt upon whom the task would fall. Among all the friends whom fame had brought to Charlotte, Mrs. Gaskell stood prominent for her literary gifts and her large-hearted sympathy: She had made the acquaintance of Miss Bronté when the latter “was on a visit to Sir James Kay Shuttleworth, in 1850; and a letter from Charlotte to her father, and others to Mr. W. S. Williams, indicate the beginning of a friendship which was to leave so permanent a record in literary history : —

‘My pear Sir, — You said that if I wished for any copies of “Shirley” to be sent to individuals I was to name the parties. 3

I have thought of one person to whom I should much like a copy to be offered — Harriet Martineau. For her character — as revealed in her works—TI have a lively admiration, a deep esteem. Will you inclose with the volume the accompanying note ? ; ; ‘The letter you forwarded this morning was from Mrs. Gaskell, authoress of “ Mary Barton;” she said I was not to answer it, but I cannot help doing so. The note brought the tears to my eyes. She is a good, she is a great woman. Proud am I that I can touch a chord of sympathy in souls so noble. In Mrs. Gaskell’s nature it mournfully pleases me to fancy a remote affinity to my sister Emily. In Miss Martineau’s mind I have always felt the same, though there are wide differences. Both these ladies are above me — certainly far my superiors in attainments and experience. I think I could look up to them if I knew them. — I am, dear sir, yours sincerely, *C. Brontii.’

‘Dear Sir, —I inclose two notes for postage. The note you sent yesterday was from Harriet Martineau ; its contents were more than gratifying. I ought to be thankful, and I trust I am, for such testimonies of sympathy from the first order of minds. When Mrs. Gaskell tells me she shall keep my works as a treasure for her daughters, and when Harriet Martineau testifies affectionate approbation, I feel the sting taken from the strictures of another class of critics. My resolution of seclusion withholds me from communicating further with these ladies at present, but I now know how they are inclined to me —I know how my writings have affected their wise and pure minds. The knowledge is present support and, perhaps, may be future armour.

‘I trust Mrs. Williams’s health and, consequently, your spirits are by this time quite restored. If all be well, perhaps I shall see you next week. — Yours sincerely,

‘C. Bronvit.’ 4

TO W. S. WILLIAMS.

‘ My pear Sir, — May I beg that a copy of “ Wuthering Heights” may be sent to Mrs. Gaskell; her present address is 3 Sussex Place, Regent’s Park. She has just sent me the ‘ Moorland Cottage.” I felt disappointed about the publication of that book, having hoped it would be offered to Smith, Elder & Co. ; but it seems she had no alternative, as it was Mr. Chapman himself who asked her to write a Christmas book. On my return home yesterday I found two packets from Cornhill directed in two well-known hands waiting for me. You are all very, very good.

‘I trust to have derived benefit from my visit to Miss Martineau. A visit more interesting I certainly never paid. If self-sustaining strength can be acquired from example, I ought to have got good. But my nature is not hers; I could not make it so though I were to submit it seventy times seven to the furnace of affliction, and discipline it for an age under the hammer and anvil of toil and self-sacrifice. Perhaps if I was like her I should not admire her so much as I do. She is somewhat absolute, though quite unconsciously so; but she is likewise kind, with an affection at once abrupt and constant, whose sincerity you cannot. doubt. It was delightful to sit near her in the evenings and hear her converse, myself mute. She speaks with what seems to me a wonderful fluency and eloquence. Her animal spirits are as unflagging as her intellectual powers. I was glad to find her health excellent. I believe neither solitude nor loss of friends would break her down. I saw some faults in her, but somehow I liked them for the sake of her good points. It gave me no pain to feel insignificant, mentally and corporeally, in comparison with her.

‘Trusting that you and yours are well, and sincerely wishing you all a happy new year, —I am, my dear sir, yours sincerely,

5 *C. Brontiés.’

TO, REV. P. BRONTE.

‘THe Breery, WINDERMERE, August 10, 1850.

‘Dear Papa, —I reached this place yesterday evening at eight o’clock, after a safe though rather tedious journey. I had to 5 change carriages three times and to wait an hour and a half at Lancaster. Sir James came to meet me at the station; both he and Lady Shuttleworth gave me a very kind reception. This place is exquisitely beautiful, though the weather is cloudy, misty, and stormy; but the sun bursts out occasionally and shows the hills and the lake. Mrs. Gaskell is coming here this evening, and one or two other people. Miss Martineau, I am sorry to say, I shall not see, as she is already gone from home for the autumn.

‘Be kind enough to write by return of post and tell me how you are getting on and how you are. Give my kind regards to Tabby and Martha, and— Believe me, dear papa, your affectionate daughter, C. Brontii.’

And this is how she writes to a friend from Haworth, on her return, after that first meeting : —

‘Lady Shuttleworth never got out, being confined to the house. with a cold ; but fortunately there was Mrs. Gaskell, the authoress of ‘“ Mary Barton,” who came to the Briery the day after me. I was truly glad of her companionship. She is a woman of the most genuine talent, of cheerful, pleasing, and cordial manners, and, I believe, of a kind and good heart.’

“My pear Sir, —I herewith send you a very roughly written copy of what I have to say about my sisters. When you have read it you can better judge whether the word “ Notice” or “Memoir” is the most appropriate. I think the former. Memoir seems to me to express a more circumstantial and different sort of account. My aim is to give a just idea of their identity, not to write any narration of their simple, uneventful lives. I depend on you for faithfully pointing out whatever may strike you as faulty. I could not write it in the conventional form — that I found impossible.

‘It gives me real pleasure to hear of your son’s success. I trust he may persevere and go on improving, and give his parents cause for satisfaction and honest pride.

‘I am truly pleased, too, to learn that Miss Kavanagh has managed so well with Mr. Colburn. Her position seems to me one deserving of all sympathy. I often think of her. Will her novel soon be published? Somehow I expect it to be interesting.

‘I certainly did hope that Mrs. Gaskell would offer her next work to Smith & Elder. She and I had some conversation about publishers — a comparison of our literary experiences was made. She seemed much struck with the differences between hers and mine, though I did not enter into details or tell her all. Unless I greatly mistake, she and you and Mr. Smith would get on well together; but one does not know what causes there may be to prevent her from doing as she would wish in such a case. I think Mr. Smith will not object to my occasionally sending her any of the Cornhill books that she may like to see. I have already taken the liberty of lending her Wordsworth’s “ Prelude,” as she was saying how much she wished to have the opportunity of reading it.

‘I do not tack remembrances to Mrs. Williams and your daughters and Miss Kavanagh to all my letters, because that makes an empty form of what should be a sincere wish, but I trust this mark of courtesy and regard, though rarely expressed, is always understood. — Believe me, yours sincerely, ‘C. Brontii.’

Miss Bronté twice visited Mrs. Gaskell in her Manchester home, first in 1851 and afterwards in 1853, and concerning this latter visit we have the following letter : —

TO MRS. GASKELL, Mancuester.

‘Hawortn, April 14, 1853.

‘My pear Mrs. Gaskett, — Would it suit you if I were to come next Thursday, the 21st ?

‘If that day tallies with your convenience, and if my father continues as well as he is now, I know of no engagement on my part which need compel me longer to defer the pleasure of seeing you, a

‘IT should arrive by the train which reaches Manchester at 7 o’clock p.m. That, I think, would be about your tea-time, and, of course, I should dine before leaving home. I always like evening for an arrival; it. seems more cosy and pleasant than coming in about the busy middle of the day. I think if I stay a week that will be a very long visit; it will give you time to get well tired of me.

‘Remember me very kindly to Mr. Gaskell and Marianna. As to Mesdames Flossy and Julia, those venerable ladies are requested beforehand to make due allowance for the awe with which they will be sure to impress a diffident admirer. I am sorry I shall not see Meta. — Believe me, my dear Mrs. Gaskell, yours affectionately and sincerely, C. Brontii,’

In the autumn of 1853 Mrs. Gaskell returned Charlotte Bronté’s visit at Haworth. She was not, however, at Charlotte’s wedding in Haworth Church.}

TO MISS WOOLER.

‘Haworth, September 8.

‘My pear Miss Wooter, — Your letter was truly kind, and made me warmly wish to join you. My prospects, however, of being able to leave home continue very unsettled. I am expecting Mrs. Gaskell next week or the week after, the day being yet undetermined. She was to have come in June, but then my severe attack of influenza rendered it impossible that I should receive or entertain her. Since that time she has been absent on the Continent with her husband and two eldest girls ; and just before I received yours I had a letter from her volunteering a visit at a vague date, which I requested her to fix as soon as possible. My father has been much better during the last three or four days. :

‘When I know anything certain I will write to you again.— Believe me, my dear Miss Wooler, yours respectfully and affectionately, C. Bronti:.’

1 Although so stated by Professor A. W. Ward in the “ Dictionary of National Biography,” vol. xxi. 8

But the friendship, which commenced so late in Charlotte Bronté’s life, never reached the stage of downright intimacy. Of this there is abundant evidence in the biography; and Mrs. Gaskell was forced to rely upon the correspondence of older friends of Charlotte’s. Mr. George Smith, the head of the firm of Smith and Elder, furnished some twenty letters. Mr. W.S. Williams, to whom is due the credit of ‘discovering’ the author of ‘Jane Eyre,’ lent others ; and another member of Messrs. Smith and Elder's staff, Mr. James Taylor, furnished half-a-dozen more; but the best help came from another quarter.

Of the two schoolfellows with whom Charlotte Bronté regularly corresponded from childhood till death, Mary Taylor and Ellen Nussey, the former had destroyed every letter ; and thus it came about that by far the larger part of the correspondence in Mrs. Gaskell’s biography was addressed to Miss Ellen Nussey, now as ‘ My dearest Nell, now simp? as ‘KE. The unpublished correspondence in my hands, which refers to the biography, opens with a letter from Mrs. Gaskell to Miss Nussey, dated July 6th, 1855. It relates how, in accordance with a request from Mr. Bronté, she had undertaken to write the work, and had been over to Haworth. There she had made the acquaintance of Mr. Nicholls for the first time. She told Mr. Bronté how much she felt the difficulty of the task she had undertaken. Nevertheless, she sincerely desired to make his daughter’s character known to all who took deep interest in her writings. Both Mr. Bronté and Mr. Nicholls agreed to help to the utmost, although Mrs. Gaskell was struck by the fact that it was Mr. Nicholls, and not Mr. Bronté, who was more intellectually alive to the attraction, which such a book would have for the public. His feelings were opposed to any biography at all; but he had yielded to Mr. Bronté’s ‘impetuous wish,’ and he brought down all the materials he could find, in the shape of about a dozen letters. Mr. Nicholls, moreover, told Mrs. Gaskell that Miss Nussey was the person of all others to apply to; that she had been the friend of his wife ever since Charlotte was fifteen, and that he was writing to Miss Nussey to beg her to let Mrs. Gaskell see some of the correspondence.

But here is Mr. Nicholls’s actual letter, unearthed after forty years, as well as earlier letters from and to Miss Nussey, which would seem to indicate a suggestion upon the part of ‘E’ that some attempt should be made to furnish a biography of her friend —if only to set at rest, once and for all, the speculations of the gossiping community with whom Charlotte Bronté’s personality was still shrouded in mystery ; and indeed it is clear from these letters that it is to Miss Nussey that we really owe Mrs. Gaskell’s participation in the matter: —

TO REY. A. B. NICHOLLS.

‘ Brookroyp#June 6, 1855.

‘Dear Mr. Nicnours, —I have been much hurt and pained by the perusal of an article in ‘Sharpe ” for this month, entitled ** A Few Words about ‘Jane Eyre.’” You will be certain to see the article, and I am sure both you and Mr. Bronté will feel acutely the misrepresentations and the malignant spirit which characterises it. Will you suffer the article to pass current without any refutations? The writer merits the contempt of silence, but there will be readers and believers. Shall such be left to imbibe a tissue of malignant falsehoods, or shall an attempt be made to do justice to one who so highly deserved justice, whose very name those who best knew her but speak with reverence and affection. Should not her aged father be defended from the reproach the writer coarsely attempts to . bring upon him ?

‘I wish Mrs. Gaskell, who is every way capable, would undertake a reply, and would give a sound castigation to the writer. Her personal acquaintance with Haworth, the Parsonage, and its inmates, fits her for the task, and if on other subjects she lacked information I would gladly supply her with facts sufficient to set aside much that is asserted, if you yourself are not provided with all the information that is needed on the subjects produced. Will you ask Mrs. Gaskell to undertake this just and honourable defence? I think she would do it gladly. She valued dear Charlotte, and such an act of friendship, performed with her ability and power, could only add to the laurels she has already won. I hope you and Mr. Bronté are well. My’ kind regards to both.— Believe me, yours sincerely, E. Nussey.’

TO MISS ELLEN NUSSEY.

‘Haworth, June 11, 1855.

‘Dear Miss Nussey, — We had not seen the article in “ Sharpe,” and very possibly should not, if you had not directed our attention to it. We. ordered a copy, and have now read the “Few Words about ‘Jane Eyre.’” The writer has certainly made many mistakes, but apparently not from any unkind motive, as he professes to be an admirer of Charlotte’s works, pays a just tribute to her genius, and in common with thousands deplores her untimely death. His design seems rather to be to gratify the curiosity of the multitude in reference to one who had made such a sensation in the literary world. But even if the article had been of a less harmless character, we should not have felt inclined to take any notice of it, as by doing so we should have given it an importance which it would not otherwise have obtained. Charlotte herself would have acted thus ; and her character stands too high to be injured by the statements in a magazine of small circulation and little influence — statements which the writer prefaces with the remark that he does not vouch for their accuracy. The many laudatory notices of Charlotte and her works which appeared since her death may well make us indifferent to the detractions of a few envious or malignant persons, as there ever will be such.

‘The remarks respecting Mr. Bronté excited in him only amusement— indeed, I have not seen him laugh as much for some months as he did while I was reading the article to him. We are both well in health, but lonely and desolate.

‘Mr. Bronté unites with me in kind regards. — Yours sincerely, A. B. NicHotts.’

TO MISS ELLEN NUSSEY.

“Haworth, July 24, 1855.

‘Dear Miss Nussry,—Some other erroneous notices of Charlotte having appeared, Mr. Bronté has deemed it advisable that some authentic statement should be put forth. He has therefore adopted your suggestion and applied to Mrs. Gaskell, who has undertaken to write a life of Charlotte. Mrs. Gaskell came over yesterday and spent a few hours with us. The greatest difficulty seems to be in obtaining materials to show the development of Charlotte’s character. For this reason Mrs. Gaskell is anxious to see her letters, especially those of any early date. I think I understood you to say that you~ had some; if so, we should feel obliged by your letting us have any that you may think proper, not for publication, but merely to give the writer an insight into her mode of thought. Of course they will be returned after a little time.

‘IT confess that the course most consonant with my own feelings would be to take no steps in the matter, but I do not think it right to offer any opposition to Mr. Bronté’s wishes,

‘We have the same object in view, but should differ in our mode of proceeding. Mr. Bronté has not been very well. Excitement on Sunday (our Rush-bearing) and Mrs. Gaskell’s visit yesterday have been rather much for him.— Believe me, sincerely yours, A. B. NicHouts.’

Mrs. Gaskell, however, wanted to make Miss Nussey’s — acquaintance, and asked if she might visit her; and added that she would also like to see Miss Wooler, Charlotte’s schoolmistress, if that lady were still alive. To this letter

Miss Nussey made the following reply : — 12

TO MRS. GASKELL, MAncuEster.

‘ILKLEY, July 26, 1855.

‘My pear Mapam, — Owing to my absence from home your letter has only just reached me. I had not heard of Mr. Bronté’s request, but I am most heartily glad that he has made it. A letter from Mr. Nicholls was forwarded along with yours, which I opened first, and was thus prepared for your communication, the subject of which is of the deepest interest to me. I will do everything in my power to aid the righteous work you have undertaken, but I feel my powers very limited, and apprehend that you may experience some disappointment that I cannot contribute more largely the information which you desire. I possess a great many letters (for I have destroyed but a small portion of the correspondence), but I fear the early letters are not such as to unfold the character of the writer except in a few points. You perhaps may discover more than is apparent to me. You will read them with a purpose—TI perused them only with interests of affection. I will immediately look over the correspondence, and I promise to let you see all that I can confide to your friendly custody. I regret that my absence from home should have - made it impossible for me to have the pleasure of seeing you at Brookroyd at the time you propose. I am engaged to stay here till Monday week, and shall be*happy to see you any day you name after that date, or if more convenient to you to come Friday or Saturday in next week, I will gladly return in time to give you the meeting. I am staying with our schoolmistress, Miss Wooler, in this place. I wish her very much to give me leave to ask you here, but she does not yield to my wishes; it would have been pleasanter to me to talk with you among these hills than sitting in my home and thinking of one who had so often been present there. —I am, my dear madam, yours sincerely, ELLEN Nussey.’