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her too short careerthe intensity of her feeling should wear out her physical health。 The habit of 〃making out；〃 which had grown with her growth； and strengthened with her strength； had become a part of her nature。 Yet all exercise of her strongest and most characteristic faculties was now out of the question。 She could not （as while she was at Miss W…'s） feel； amidst the occupations of the day； that when evening came； she might employ herself in more congenial ways。 No doubt； all who enter upon the career of a governess have to relinquish much； no doubt； it must ever be a life of sacrifice； but to Charlotte Bronte it was a perpetual attempt to force all her faculties into a direction for which the whole of her previous life had unfitted them。 Moreover； the little Brontes had been brought up motherless； and from knowing nothing of the gaiety and the sportiveness of childhoodfrom never having experienced caresses or fond attentions themselvesthey were ignorant of the very nature of infancy； or how to call out its engaging qualities。 Children were to them the troublesome necessities of humanity； they had never been drawn into contact with them in any other way。 Years afterwards； when Miss Bronte came to stay with us； she watched our little girls perpetually； and I could not persuade her that they were only average specimens of well brought up children。 She was surprised and touched by any sign of thoughtfulness for others； of kindness to animals； or of unselfishness on their part： and constantly maintained that she was in the right； and I in the wrong； when we differed on the point of their unusual excellence。 All this must be borne in mind while reading the following letters。 And it must likewise be borne in mindby those who； surviving her； look back upon her life from their mount of observationhow no distaste； no suffering ever made her shrink from any course which she believed it to be her duty to engage in。
〃March 3rd； 1841。
〃I told some time since； that I meant to get a situation； and when I said so my resolution was quite fixed。 I felt that however often I was disappointed； I had no intention of relinquishing my efforts。 After being severely baffled two or three times；after a world of trouble； in the way of correspondence and interviews； I have at length succeeded； and am fairly established in my new place。
* * *
〃The house is not very large； but exceedingly comfortable and well regulated； the grounds are fine and extensive。 In taking the place； I have made a large sacrifice in the way of salary； in the hope of securing comfort；by which word I do not mean to express good eating and drinking； or warm fire； or a soft bed； but the society of cheerful faces； and minds and hearts not dug out of a lead…mine； or cut from a marble quarry。 My salary is not really more than 16L。 per annum； though it is nominally 20L。； but the expense of washing will be deducted therefrom。 My pupils are two in number； a girl of eight； and a boy of six。 As to my employers； you will not expect me to say much about their characters when I tell you that I only arrived here yesterday。 I have not the faculty of telling an individual's disposition at first sight。 Before I can venture to pronounce on a character； I must see it first under various lights and from various points of view。 All I can say therefore is； both Mr。 and Mrs。seem to me good sort of people。 I have as yet had no cause to complain of want of considerateness or civility。 My pupils are wild and unbroken； but apparently well…disposed。 I wish I may be able to say as much next time I write to you。 My earnest wish and endeavour will be to please them。 If I can but feel that I am giving satisfaction； and if at the same time I can keep my health； I shall； I hope； be moderately happy。 But no one but myself can tell how hard a governess's work is to mefor no one but myself is aware how utterly averse my whole mind and nature are for the employment。 Do not think that I fail to blame myself for this； or that I leave any means unemployed to conquer this feeling。 Some of my greatest difficulties lie in things that would appear to you comparatively trivial。 I find it so hard to repel the rude familiarity of children。 I find it so difficult to ask either servants or mistress for anything I want； however much I want it。 It is less pain for me to endure the greatest inconvenience than to go into the kitchen to request its removal。 I am a fool。 Heaven knows I cannot help it！
〃Now can you tell me whether it is considered improper for governesses to ask their friends to come and see them。 I do not mean； of course； to stay； but just for a call of an hour or two？ If it is not absolute treason； I do fervently request that you will contrive； in some way or other； to let me have a sight of your face。 Yet I feel； at the same time； that I am making a very foolish and almost impracticable demand； yet this is only four miles from B… ！〃
〃March 21st。
〃You must excuse a very short answer to your most welcome letter； for my time is entirely occupied。 Mrs。expected a good deal of sewing from me。 I cannot sew much during the day； on account of the children； who require the utmost attention。 I am obliged； therefore； to devote the evenings to this business。 Write to me often； very long letters。 It will do both of us good。 This place is far better than …； but God knows； I have enough to do to keep a good heart in the matter。 What you said has cheered me a little。 I wish I could always act according to your advice。 Home…sickness affects me sorely。 I like Mr。extremely。 The children are over… indulged； and consequently hard at times to manage。 DO； DO； do come and see me； if it be a breach of etiquette； never mind。 If you can only stop an hour； come。 Talk no more about my forsaking you； my darling； I could not afford to do it。 I find it is not in my nature to get on in this weary world without sympathy and attachment in some quarter； and seldom indeed do we find it。 It is too great a treasure to be ever wantonly thrown away when once secured。〃
Miss Bronte had not been many weeks in her new situation before she had a proof of the kind…hearted hospitality of her employers。 Mr。wrote to her father； and urgently invited him to come and make acquaintance with his daughter's new home； by spending a week with her in it； and Mrs。expressed great regret when one of Miss Bronte's friends drove up to the house to leave a letter or parcel； without entering。 So she found that all her friends might freely visit her； and that her father would be received with especial gladness。 She thankfully acknowledged this kindness in writing to urge her friend afresh to come and see her； which she accordingly did。
〃June； 1841。
〃You can hardly fancy it possible； I dare say； that I cannot find a quarter of an hour to scribble a note in； but so it is； and when a note is written； it has to be carried a mile to the post； and that consumes nearly an hour； which is a large portion of the day。 Mr。 and Mrs。have been gone a week。 I heard from them this morning。 No time is fixed for their return； but I hope it will not be delayed long； or I shall miss the chance of seeing Anne this vacation。