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nous occupons de leur avenir； comme si elles faisaient partie de notre famille； leurs qualites personnelles； leur bon vouloir； leur zele extreme sont les seules causes qui nous poussent e nous hasarder de la sorte。 Nous savons； Monsieur； que vous peserez plus murement et plus sagement que nous la consequence qu'aurait pour l'avenir une interruption complete dans les etudes de vos deux filles； vous deciderez ce qu'il faut faire； et vous nous pardonnerez notre franchise； si vous daignez considerer que le motif qui nous fait agir est une affection bien desinteressee et qui s'affligerait beaucoup de devoir deje se resigner e n'etre plus utile e vos chers enfants。
〃Agreez； je vous prie； Monsieur； l'expression respectueuse de mes sentiments de haute consideration。
〃C。 HEGER。〃
There was so much truth； as well as so much kindness in this letterit was so obvious that a second year of instruction would be far more valuable than the first； that there was no long hesitation before it was decided that Charlotte should return to Brussels。
Meanwhile； they enjoyed their Christmas all together inexpressibly。 Branwell was with them； that was always a pleasure at this time； whatever might be his faults； or even his vices； his sisters yet held him up as their family hope； as they trusted that he would some day be their family pride。 They blinded themselves to the magnitude of the failings of which they were now and then told； by persuading themselves that such failings were common to all men of any strength of character； for； till sad experience taught them better； they fell into the usual error of confounding strong passions with strong character。
Charlotte's friend came over to see her； and she returned the visit。 Her Brussels life must have seemed like a dream； so completely； in this short space of time； did she fall back into the old household ways； with more of household independence than she could ever have had during her aunt's lifetime。 Winter though it was； the sisters took their accustomed walks on the snow… covered moors； or went often down the long road to Keighley； for such books as had been added to the library there during their absence from England。
CHAPTER XII
Towards the end of January； the time came for Charlotte to return to Brussels。 Her journey thither was rather disastrous。 She had to make her way alone； and the train from Leeds to London； which should have reached Euston…square early in the afternoon； was so much delayed that it did not get in till ten at night。 She had intended to seek out the Chapter Coffee…house； where she had stayed before； and which would have been near the place where the steam…boats lay； but she appears to have been frightened by the idea of arriving at an hour which； to Yorkshire notions； was so late and unseemly； and taking a cab； therefore； at the station； she drove straight to the London Bridge Wharf； and desired a waterman to row her to the Ostend packet； which was to sail the next morning。 She described to me； pretty much as she has since described it in 〃Villette；〃 her sense of loneliness； and yet her strange pleasure in the excitement of the situation； as in the dead of that winter's night she went swiftly over the dark river to the black hull's side； and was at first refused leave to ascend to the deck。 〃No passengers might sleep on board；〃 they said； with some appearance of disrespect。 She looked back to the lights and subdued noises of Londonthat 〃Mighty Heart〃 in which she had no placeand； standing up in the rocking boat； she asked to speak to some one in authority on board the packet。 He came； and her quiet simple statement of her wish； and her reason for it； quelled the feeling of sneering distrust in those who had first heard her request； and impressed the authority so favourably that he allowed her to come on board； and take possession of a berth。 The next morning she sailed； and at seven on Sunday evening she reached the Rue d'Isabelle once more； having only left Haworth on Friday morning at an early hour。
Her salary was 16L。 a year； out of which she had to pay for her German lessons； for which she was charged as much （the lessons being probably rated by time） as when Emily learnt with her and divided the expense； viz。； ten francs a month。 By Miss Bronte's own desire； she gave her English lessons in the CLASSE； or schoolroom； without the supervision of Madame or M。 Heger。 They offered to be present； with a view to maintain order among the unruly Belgian girls； but she declined this； saying that she would rather enforce discipline by her own manner and character than be indebted for obedience to the presence of a GENDARME。 She ruled over a new school…room； which had been built on the space in the play…ground adjoining the house。 Over that First Class she was SURVEILLANTE at all hours； and henceforward she was called MADEMOISELLE Charlotte by M。 Heger's orders。 She continued her own studies； principally attending to German； and to Literature； and every Sunday she went alone to the German and English chapels。 Her walks too were solitary； and principally taken in the allee defendue； where she was secure from intrusion。 This solitude was a perilous luxury to one of her temperament； so liable as she was to morbid and acute mental suffering。
On March 6th； 1843； she writes thus：…
〃I am settled by this time； of course。 I am not too much overloaded with occupation； and besides teaching English； I have time to improve myself in German。 I ought to consider myself well off； and to be thankful for my good fortunes。 I hope I am thankful； and if I could always keep up my spirits and never feel lonely； or long for companionship； or friendship； or whatever they call it； I should do very well。 As I told you before； M。 and Madame Heger are the only two persons in the house for whom I really experience regard and esteem； and of course； I cannot be always with them； nor even very often。 They told me； when I first returned； that I was to consider their sitting…room my sitting… room also； and to go there whenever I was not engaged in the schoolroom。 This； however； I cannot do。 In the daytime it is a public room； where music…masters and mistresses are constantly passing in and out； and in the evening； I will not； and ought not to intrude on M。 and Madame Heger and their children。 Thus I am a good deal by myself； out of school…hours； but that does not signify。 I now regularly give English lessons to M。 Heger and his brother…in…law。 They get on with wonderful rapidity； especially the first。 He already begins to speak English very decently。 If you could see and hear the efforts I make to teach them to pronounce like Englishmen； and their unavailing attempts to imitate； you would laugh to all eternity。
〃The Carnival is just over； and we have entered upon the gloom and abstinence of Lent。 The first day of Lent we had coffee without milk for breakfast； vinegar and vegetables； with a very little salt fish； for dinner； and bread for supper。 The Carnival was nothing but masking and mummery。 M。 Heger took me and one of the pupils into the town to see the masks。 It was animating to see the immense crowds； and the general gaiety； but the masks w