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e； indeed； and drew in towards the latter part of the evening； because he began to season his conversation with something of Hibernian flattery； which I did not quite relish。 However； they went away； and no more was thought about them。 A few days after； I got a letter； the direction of which puzzled me； it being in a hand I was not accustomed to see。 Evidently； it was neither from you nor Mary； my only correspondents。 Having opened and read it； it proved to be a declaration of attachment and proposal of matrimony； expressed in the ardent language of the sapient young Irishman！ I hope you are laughing heartily。 This is not like one of my adventures； is it？ It more nearly resembles Martha's。 I am certainly doomed to be an old maid。 Never mind。 I made up my mind to that fate ever since I was twelve years old。
〃Well！ thought I； I have heard of love at first sight； but this beats all！ I leave you to guess what my answer would be； convinced that you will not do me the injustice of guessing wrong。〃
〃On the 14th of August she still writes from Haworth：…
〃I have in vain packed my box； and prepared everything for our anticipated journey。 It so happens that I can get no conveyance this week or the next。 The only gig let out to hire in Haworth； is at Harrowgate； and likely to remain there； for aught I can hear。 Papa decidedly objects to my going by the coach； and walking to B。； though I am sure I could manage it。 Aunt exclaims against the weather； and the roads； and the four winds of heaven； so I am in a fix； and； what is worse； so are you。 On reading over； for the second or third time； your last letter （which； by the by； was written in such hieroglyphics that； at the first hasty perusal； I could hardly make out two consecutive words）； I find you intimate that if I leave this journey till Thursday I shall be too late。 I grieve that I should have so inconvenienced you； but I need not talk of either Friday or Saturday now； for I rather imagine there is small chance of my ever going at all。 The elders of the house have never cordially acquiesced in the measure； and now that impediments seem to start up at every step； opposition grows more open。 Papa； indeed； would willingly indulge me； but this very kindness of his makes me doubt whether I ought to draw upon it； so； though I could battle out aunt's discontent； I yield to papa's indulgence。 He does not say so； but I know he would rather I stayed at home； and aunt meant well too； I dare say； but I am provoked that she reserved the expression of her decided disapproval till all was settled between you and myself。 Reckon on me no more； leave me out in your calculations： perhaps I ought； in the beginning； to have had prudence sufficient to shut my eyes against such a prospect of pleasure； so as to deny myself the hope of it。 Be as angry as you please with me for disappointing you。 I did not intend it； and have only one thing more to sayif you do not go immediately to the sea； will you come to see us at Haworth？ This invitation is not mine only； but papa's and aunt's。〃
However； a little more patience； a little more delay； and she enjoyed the pleasure she had wished for so much。 She and her friend went to Easton for a fortnight in the latter part of September。 It was here she received her first impressions of the sea。
〃Oct。 24th。
〃Have you forgotten the sea by this time； E。？ Is it grown dim in your mind？ Or can you still see it； dark； blue； and green； and foam…white； and hear it roaring roughly when the wind is high； or rushing softly when it is calm？ 。 。 。 I am as well as need be； and very fat。 I think of Easton very often； and of worthy Mr。 H。； and his kind…hearted helpmate； and of our pleasant walks to H… Wood； and to Boynton； our merry evenings； our romps with little Hancheon； &c。； &c。 If we both live； this period of our lives will long be a theme for pleasant recollection。 Did you chance； in your letter to Mr。 H。； to mention my spectacles？ I am sadly inconvenienced by the want of them。 I can neither read； write； nor draw with comfort in their absence。 I hope Madame won't refuse to give them up 。 。 。 Excuse the brevity of this letter； for I have been drawing all day； and my eyes are so tired it is quite a labour to write。〃
But； as the vivid remembrance of this pleasure died away； an accident occurred to make the actual duties of life press somewhat heavily for a time。
〃December 21st； 1839
〃We are at present； and have been during the last month； rather busy； as； for that space of time； we have been without a servant； except a little girl to run errands。 Poor Tabby became so lame that she was at length obliged to leave us。 She is residing with her sister； in a little house of her own； which she bought with her savings a year or two since。 She is very comfortable； and wants nothing； as she is near； we see her very often。 In the meantime； Emily and I are sufficiently busy； as you may suppose： I manage the ironing； and keep the rooms clean； Emily does the baking； and attends to the kitchen。 We are such odd animals； that we prefer this mode of contrivance to having a new face amongst us。 Besides； we do not despair of Tabby's return； and she shall not be supplanted by a stranger in her absence。 I excited aunt's wrath very much by burning the clothes； the first time I attempted to iron； but I do better now。 Human feelings are queer things； I am much happier black…leading the stoves； making the beds； and sweeping the floors at home； than I should be living like a fine lady anywhere else。 I must indeed drop my subscription to the Jews； because I have no money to keep it up。 I ought to have announced this intention to you before； but I quite forgot I was a subscriber。 I intend to force myself to take another situation when I can get one； though I HATE and ABHOR the very thoughts of governess…ship。 But I must do it； and； therefore； I heartily wish I could hear of a family where they need such a commodity as a governess。〃
CHAPTER IX
The year 1840 found all the Brontes living at home； except Anne。 As I have already intimated； for some reason with which I am unacquainted； the plan of sending Branwell to study at the Royal Academy had been relinquished； probably it was found； on inquiry； that the expenses of such a life； were greater than his father's slender finances could afford； even with the help which Charlotte's labours at Miss W…'s gave； by providing for Anne's board and education。 I gather from what I have heard； that Branwell must have been severely disappointed when the plan fell through。 His talents were certainly very brilliant； and of this he was fully conscious； and fervently desired； by their use； either in writing or drawing； to make himself a name。 At the same time； he would probably have found his strong love of pleasure and irregular habits a great impediment in his path to fame； but these blemishes in his character were only additional reasons why he yearned after a London life； in which he imagined he could obtain every stimulant to his already vigorous intellect； while at the same time he would have a license of action to be found only in crowded cities。 Thus his whole nature was attracted towa