The Bront? Family, Vol. 2 of 2

?Leyland's Medallion of Him?-?Mr. Bront?'s Blindness?-?Branwell's Statement to Mr. Grundy in

al which had elapsed between his dismissal from his tutorship, and the event last named, he had encouraged himself, it might be unconsciously for the most part, with the hope that, on the death of her husband, the lady on whom he doted would marr

to the parsonage for Branwell. He came down, &c.'[27] Miss Robinson, twenty-five years later, amplifies the story. She says: 'two men came riding to the village post haste. They sent for Branwell, and when he arrived, in a great state of excitement, one of the riders dismounted and went with him into the "Black Bull."'[28] Without inquiring into Branwell's excitement, or into the variations in the two accounts-for there is but one point in the story on which the two authors are perfectly agreed, viz., that Branwell, on the occasion, 'bleated like a calf!'-there can be little doubt that this case, on such evidence, could not get upon its legs before any country jury impanelled to try petty causes. But Branwell himself, in his letter to Mr. Grundy, given below, says the co

he condition that she should never see Branwell Bront? again.'[29] (The Italics are my own.) Mrs. Gaskell's postulations concerning this will are quite as erroneous as that she made in reference to Miss Branwell's, so far as it related to her nephew. Indeed, like her oth

co-trustees always to regard the wishes and interests of his wife, and to do nothing without consulting her about the administering of his affairs. But all this-and it is quite usual-was to continue only during her widowhood; and this common arrangement, let it be borne in mind, was no more directed against Branwell than anyone else. What then, it may well be asked, becomes of Mrs. Gaskell's assertion that the property left to Mrs. -

elves, was not there to call for them on behalf of Branwell, even had they now been needed. Moreover, there is no evidence worth the name that Mrs. -- ever committed the acts in relation to him attributed to her; on the contrary, the sincere affection and touching reliance on his wife, manifested throughout his will, is proof enough that her husband had

under their last phase, may be observed in the following letters, w

th, Br

or

ar

ave been is dead. His property is left in trust for the family, provided I do not see the widow; and if I do, it reverts to the executing trustees, with ruin to her. She is now distracted with sorrows and agonies; and the

very si

. Bro

o Leyland in gr

ad, and he has left his widow in a dreadful state of health.... Through the will, she is left quite powerless. The executing trustees' (the principal one o

ut I do care for the life of the one

s I have not slept-for three days I have not tasted food-and, when I think of the state of her I love be

se my mind is crowded with one set of though

castles in the air, but about stern realities; my hardihood lies in bodily vigour; but, dear sir, my min

ope that this wretched scrawl will not make me ap

, yours mos

. Bro

and surrounded by flames and smoke. The rigidity of the muscles, the fixed expression of the face, and the man

nts out its effects upon him. He says, alluding to the lady of his distracted thoughts, 'Well,

rom the medical gentleman who attended -- in his last illness, an

as if it could not bear the mental shock.... My appetite is lost, my nights are dreadful, and having nothing to do makes me dwell on past scenes,-on

17th, Char

uations have been offered him, for which, by a fortnight's work, he might have qu

nder the infliction of any sudden and unexpected disappointment, was possessed of considerable recuperative power; and, after a period of brooding melancholy over his woes, he appeared to take renewed interest in the events that we

e, somewhat recovered from this disappointme

ar

ad a relievo of my very wretch

h; not that I care a fig for it, save from regard for its maker,-but m

and I promise to send you "Morley Hall" as soon as

ieve

most si

. Bro

orth, some eight inches from the wall; this was the one Mrs. Gaskell saw, of which she says:-'I have seen Branwell's profile; it is what would be generally esteemed very handsome; the forehead is massive, the eye well set, and the expression of it fine and intellectual; the nose, too, is good; but there are coarse lines about the mouth,

on the 16th of July, now more hims

ing bill to tempt you to

tion of the heart, I have taken care of myself bodily, but to what go

truth blazes through my brain, and then the pr

nnot; and, as to slumber, my mind, whether awake or a

te also to M

e never her due. My father, too, is now quite blind, and from such causes literary pursuits have become matters I have no heart to wield. If I could see you it would be a sincere pleasure, but

hire Hotel, Skipton, a distance of some seventeen miles, and i

n visiting you at the Devonshire on Friday, the 31st of this month. The sight of a face I have

ranwell mentions must have been the one that fell on the 31st of July, 1846. About the close of that month, Charlotte and Emily went to Manchester to consult

His great trouble was that, when his sight became so dim that he could barely recognize his children's faces, and when he was debarred from using his eyes in reading, he was shut off from the solace of his books, and from the sources-the periodical press-of his knowledge of the current affairs of the outside world, wherein he took such intense interest. He was, then, left dependent on the information of others, or on his children, who re

this object that the sisters visited Manchester. There they met with Mr. Wilson, who was, however, unable to say positively from description whethe

ere on Wednesday; we saw Mr. Wilson, the oculist, the same day; he pronounced papa's eyes quite ready for an operation, and has fixed next Monday for the performance of it. Think of us on that day! We got into our lodgings yesterday. I think we shall be comfortable; at least, our rooms are very good.... Mr. Wilson says we shall have to stay here fo

anxious about his father's recovery; and, on her return, Charlotte, says Mrs. Gaskell,

t was his wish that I should be there; of course, I neither spoke nor moved till the thing was done, and then I felt that the less I said, either to papa or the surgeons, the better. Papa is now confined to his bed in a dark room, and is not to be stirred for four days; he is to speak and be spoken to as little as possible.' No inflammation ensued, yet the greatest care, perfect quiet, and utter privation of light were still necessary to complete the success of the operation; and Mr. Bront? remained in his darkened room with his eyes

ays: 'As he never came to see me, I shortly made up my mind to visit him at Haworth, and was shocked at the wrecked and wretched appearance h

nce, that, when Mr. Grundy talked with Branwell and Emily at Haworth, the three novels which the sisters had completed a few months before, had met only with repeated rejection, and, perhaps, they felt little confidence in the ultimate publication of them. 'The Professor,' indeed, had come back to Charlotte's hands, curtly rejected, on the very day of the operation. Doubtful of ever finding a publisher willing to take this tale, or, at any rate, undaunted, she had co

etimes; but, whenever I consult my conscience, it affirms that I am doing right in staying at home, and bitter are its upbraidings when I yield to an eager desire for release. I could hardly expect success if I were to err against such warnings. I should like to hear from