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ed of the second…rate character of its schools。 In one of her letters reference has been made to Mrs。 Jenkins； the wife of the chaplain of the British Embassy。 At the request of his brothera clergyman； living not many miles from Haworth； and an acquaintance of Mr。 Bronte'sshe made much inquiry； and at length； after some discouragement in her search； heard of a school which seemed in every respect desirable。 There was an English lady who had long lived in the Orleans family； amidst the various fluctuations of their fortunes； and who； when the Princess Louise was married to King Leopold； accompanied her to Brussels； in the capacity of reader。 This lady's granddaughter was receiving her education at the pensionnat of Madame Heger； and so satisfied was the grandmother with the kind of instruction given； that she named the establishment； with high encomiums； to Mrs。 Jerkins； and； in consequence； it was decided that； if the terms suited； Miss Bronte and Emily should proceed thither。 M。 Heger informs me that； on receipt of a letter from Charlotte； making very particular inquiries as to the possible amount of what are usually termed 〃extras；〃 he and his wife were so much struck by the simple earnest tone of the letter； that they said to each other：… 〃These are the daughters of an English pastor； of moderate means； anxious to learn with an ulterior view of instructing others； and to whom the risk of additional expense is of great consequence。 Let us name a specific sum； within which all expenses shall be included。〃
This was accordingly done； the agreement was concluded； and the Brontes prepared to leave their native county for the first time； if we except the melancholy and memorable residence at Cowan Bridge。 Mr。 Bronte determined to accompany his daughters。 Mary and her brother； who were experienced in foreign travelling； were also of the party。 Charlotte first saw London in the day or two they now stopped there； and； from an expression in one of her subsequent letters； they all； I believe； stayed at the Chapter Coffee House； Paternoster Rowa strange； old…fashioned tavern； of which I shall have more to say hereafter。
Mary's account of their journey is thus given。
〃In passing through London； she seemed to think our business was and ought to be； to see all the pictures and statues we could。 She knew the artists； and know where other productions of theirs were to be found。 I don't remember what we saw except St。 Paul's。 Emily was like her in these habits of mind； but certainly never took her opinion； but always had one to offer 。 。 。 I don't know what Charlotte thought of Brussels。 We arrived in the dark； and went next morning to our respective schools to see them。 We were； of course； much preoccupied； and our prospects gloomy。 Charlotte used to like the country round Brussels。 'At the top of every hill you see something。' She took； long solitary walks on the occasional holidays。〃
Mr。 Bronte took his daughters to the Rue d'Isabelle； Brussels； remained one night at Mr。 Jenkins'； and straight returned to his wild Yorkshire village。
What a contrast to that must the Belgian capital have presented to those two young women thus left behind！ Suffering acutely from every strange and unaccustomed contactfar away from their beloved home； and the dear moors beyondtheir indomitable will was their great support。 Charlotte's own words； with regard to Emily； are：…
〃After the age of twenty； having meantime studied alone with diligence and perseverance； she went with me to an establishment on the continent。 The same suffering and conflict ensued； heightened by the strong recoil of her upright heretic and English spirit from the gentle Jesuitry of the foreign and Romish system。 Once more she seemed sinking； but this time she rallied through the mere force of resolution： with inward remorse and shame she looked back on her former failure； and resolved to conquer； but the victory cost her dear。 She was never happy till she carried her hard…won knowledge back to the remote English village； the old parsonage…house； and desolate Yorkshire hills。〃
They wanted learning。 They came for learning。 They would learn。 Where they had a distinct purpose to be achieved in intercourse with their fellows； they forgot themselves； at all other times they were miserably shy。 Mrs。 Jenkins told me that she used to ask them to spend Sundays and holidays with her； until she found that they felt more pain than pleasure from such visits。 Emily hardly ever uttered more than a monosyllable。 Charlotte was sometimes excited sufficiently to speak eloquently and wellon certain subjects； but before her tongue was thus loosened； she had a habit of gradually wheeling round on her chair； so as almost to conceal her face from the person to whom she was speaking。
And yet there was much in Brussels to strike a responsive chord in her powerful imagination。 At length she was seeing somewhat of that grand old world of which she had dreamed。 As the gay crowds passed by her； so had gay crowds paced those streets for centuries； in all their varying costumes。 Every spot told an historic tale； extending back into the fabulous ages when Jan and Jannika； the aboriginal giant and giantess； looked over the wall； forty feet high； of what is now the Rue Villa Hermosa； and peered down upon the new settlers who were to turn them out of the country in which they had lived since the deluge。 The great solemn Cathedral of St。 Gudule； the religious paintings； the striking forms and ceremonies of the Romish Churchall made a deep impression on the girls； fresh from the bare walls and simple worship of Haworth Church。 And then they were indignant with themselves for having been susceptible of this impression； and their stout Protestant hearts arrayed themselves against the false Duessa that had thus imposed upon them。
The very building they occupied as pupils； in Madame Heger's pensionnat； had its own ghostly train of splendid associations； marching for ever； in shadowy procession； through and through the ancient rooms； and shaded alleys of the gardens。 From the splendour of to…day in the Rue Royale； if you turn aside； near the statue of the General Beliard； you look down four flights of broad stone steps upon the Rue d'Isabelle。 The chimneys of the houses in it are below your feet。 Opposite to the lowest flight of steps； there is a large old mansion facing you； with a spacious walled garden behindand to the right of it。 In front of this garden； on the same side as the mansion； and with great boughs of trees sweeping over their lowly roofs； is a row of small； picturesque； old…fashioned cottages； not unlike； in degree and uniformity； to the almshouses so often seen in an English country town。 The Rue d'Isabelle looks as though it had been untouched by the innovations of the builder for the last three centuries； and yet any one might drop a stone into it from the back windows of the grand modern hotels in the Rue Royale； built and furnished in the newest Parisian fashion。
In the thirteenth century； the Rue d'Isabelle was called the Fosse…aux…Chiens； and the kennels for the ducal hounds occupied the place where Madame Heger's pensionnat now stands。 A hospit