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〃Dear Madam；
〃Your letter has given me great pleasure； and I should not forgive myself if I did not tell you so。 You have received admonition as considerately and as kindly as it was given。 Let me now request that； if you ever should come to these Lakes while I am living here； you will let me see you。 You would then think of me afterwards with the more good…will； because you would perceive that there is neither severity nor moroseness in the state of mind to which years and observation have brought me。
〃It is； by God's mercy； in our power to attain a degree of self… government； which is essential to our own happiness； and contributes greatly to that of those around us。 Take care of over…excitement； and endeavour to keep a quiet mind （even for your health it is the best advice that can be given you）： your moral and spiritual improvement will then keep pace with the culture of your intellectual powers。
〃And now； madam； God bless you！
〃Farewell； and believe me to be your sincere friend；
〃ROBERT SOUTHEY。
Of this second letter； also； she spoke； and told me that it contained an invitation for her to go and see the poet if ever she visited the Lakes。 〃But there was no money to spare；〃 said she； 〃nor any prospect of my ever earning money enough to have the chance of so great a pleasure； so I gave up thinking of it。〃 At the time we conversed together on the subject we were at the Lakes。 But Southey was dead。
This 〃stringent〃 letter made her put aside； for a time； all idea of literary enterprise。 She bent her whole energy towards the fulfilment of the duties in hand； but her occupation was not sufficient food for her great forces of intellect； and they cried out perpetually； 〃Give； give；〃 while the comparatively less breezy air of Dewsbury Moor told upon her health and spirits more and more。 On August 27； 1837； she writes：…
〃I am again at Dewsbury； engaged in the old business；teach； teach； teach 。 。 。 WHEN WILL YOU COME HOME？ Make haste！ You have been at Bath long enough for all purposes； by this time you have acquired polish enough； I am sure； if the varnish is laid on much thicker； I am afraid the good wood underneath will be quite concealed； and your Yorkshire friends won't stand that。 Come； come。 I am getting really tired of your absence。 Saturday after Saturday comes round； and I can have no hope of hearing your knock at the door； and then being told that 'Miss E。 is come。' Oh； dear！ in this monotonous life of mine； that was a pleasant event。 I wish it would recur again； but it will take two or three interviews before the stiffnessthe estrangement of this long separationwill wear away。〃
About this time she forgot to return a work…bag she had borrowed； by a messenger； and in repairing her error she says：… 〃These aberrations of memory warn me pretty intelligibly that I am getting past my prime。〃 AEtat 21！ And the same tone of despondency runs through the following letter：…
〃I wish exceedingly that I could come to you before Christmas； but it is impossible； another three weeks must elapse before I shall again have my comforter beside me； under the roof of my own dear quiet home。 If I could always live with you； and daily read the Bible with youif your lips and mine could at the same time drink the same draught； from the same pure fountain of mercyI hope； I trust； I might one day become better； far better than my evil； wandering thoughts； my corrupt heart； cold to the spirit and warm to the flesh； will now permit me to be。 I often plan the pleasant life which we might lead together； strengthening each other in that power of self…denial； that hallowed and glowing devotion； which the first saints of God often attained to。 My eyes fill with tears when I contrast the bliss of such a state； brightened by hopes of the future； with the melancholy state I now live in； uncertain that I ever felt true contrition； wandering in thought and deed； longing for holiness； which I shall NEVER； NEVER obtain； smitten at times to the heart with the conviction that ghastly Calvinistic doctrines are truedarkened； in short； by the very shadows of spiritual death。 If Christian perfection be necessary to salvation； I shall never be saved； my heart is a very hotbed for sinful thoughts； and when I decide on an action I scarcely remember to look to my Redeemer for direction。 I know not how to pray； I cannot bend my life to the grand end of doing good； I go on constantly seeking my own pleasure； pursuing the gratification of my own desires。 I forget God； and will not God forget me？ And； meantime； I know the greatness of Jehovah； I acknowledge the perfection of His word； I adore the purity of the Christian faith； my theory is right； my practice horribly wrong。〃
The Christmas holidays came； and she and Anne returned to the parsonage； and to that happy home circle in which alone their natures expanded； amongst all other people they shrivelled up more or less。 Indeed； there were only one or two strangers who could be admitted among the sisters without producing the same result。 Emily and Anne were bound up in their lives and interests like twins。 The former from reserve； the latter from timidity； avoided all friendships and intimacies beyond their family。 Emily was impervious to influence； she never came in contact with public opinion； and her own decision of what was right and fitting was a law for her conduct and appearance； with which she allowed no one to interfere。 Her love was poured out on Anne； as Charlotte's was on her。 But the affection among all the three was stronger than either death or life。
〃E。〃 was eagerly welcomed by Charlotte； freely admitted by Emily； and kindly received by Anne； whenever she could visit them； and this Christmas she had promised to do so； but her coming had to be delayed on account of a little domestic accident detailed in the following letter：…
〃Dec。 29； 1837。
〃I am sure you will have thought me very remiss in not sending my promised letter long before now； but I have a sufficient and very melancholy excuse in an accident that befell our old faithful Tabby； a few days after my return home。 She was gone out into the village on some errand； when； as she was descending the steep street； her foot slipped on the ice； and she fell； it was dark； and no one saw her mischance； till after a time her groans attracted the attention of a passer…by。 She was lifted up and carried into the druggist's near； and； after the examination； it was discovered that she had completely shattered and dislocated one leg。 Unfortunately； the fracture could not be set till six o'clock the next morning； as no surgeon was to be had before that time； and she now lies at our house in a very doubtful and dangerous state。 Of course we are all exceedingly distressed at the circumstance； for she was like one of our own family。 Since the event we have been almost without assistancea person has dropped in now and then to do the drudgery； but we have as yet been able to procure no regular servant； and consequently； the whole work of the house； as well as the additional duty of nursing Tabby； falls on ourselves。 Under these circumstances I dare not press your visit here； at least until she is