misguided fellow! this craving to see and know London, and that
stronger craving after fame, were never to be satisfied. He was to die
at the end of a short and blighted life. But in this year of 1835, all
his home kindred were thinking how they could best forward his views, and
how help him up to the pinnacle where he desired to be. What their plans
were, let Charlotte explain. These are not the first sisters who have
laid their lives as a sacrifice before their brother's idolized wish.
Would to God they might be the last who met with such a miserable return!

"Haworth, July 6th, 1835.

"I had hoped to have had the extreme pleasure of seeing you at Haworth
this summer, but human affairs are mutable, and human resolutions must
bend to the course of events. We are all about to divide, break up,
separate. Emily is going to school, Branwell is going to London, and
I am going to be a governess. This last determination I formed
myself, knowing that I should have to take the step sometime, 'and
better sune as syne,' to use the Scotch proverb; and knowing well that
papa would have enough to do with his limited income, should Branwell
be placed at the Royal Academy, and Emily at Roe Head. Where am I
going to reside? you will ask. Within four miles of you, at a place
neither of us is unacquainted with, being no other than the identical
Roe Head mentioned above. Yes! I am going to teach in the very
school where I was myself taught. Miss W--- made me the offer, and I
preferred it to one or two proposals of private governess-ship, which
I had before received. I am sad--very sad--at the thoughts of leaving
home; but duty--necessity--these are stern mistresses, who will not be
disobeyed. Did I not once say you ought to be thankful for your
independence? I felt what I said at the time, and I repeat it now
with double earnestness; if anything would cheer me, it is the idea of
being so near you. Surely, you and Polly will come and see me; it
would be wrong in me to doubt it; you were never unkind yet. Emily
and I leave home on the 27th of this month; the idea of being together
consoles us both somewhat, and, truth, since I must enter a situation,
'My lines have fallen in pleasant places.' I both love and respect
Miss W-."

CHAPTER VIII

On the 29th of July, 1835, Charlotte, now a little more than nineteen
years old, went as teache