ake an unwise step
in haste. She inquired in every direction she could, as to the chances
which a new school might have of success. In all there seemed more
establishments like the one which the sisters wished to set up than could
be supported. What was to be done? Superior advantages must be offered.
But how? They themselves abounded in thought, power, and information;
but these are qualifications scarcely fit to be inserted in a prospectus.
Of French they knew something; enough to read it fluently, but hardly
enough to teach it in competition with natives or professional masters.
Emily and Anne had some knowledge of music; but here again it was
doubtful whether, without more instruction, they could engage to give
lessons in it.

Just about this time, Miss W--- was thinking of relinquishing her school
at Dewsbury Moor; and offered to give it up in favour of her old pupils,
the Brontes. A sister of hers had taken the active management since the
time when Charlotte was a teacher; but the number of pupils had
diminished; and, if the Brontes undertook it, they would have to try and
work it up to its former state of prosperity. This, again, would require
advantages on their part which they did not at present possess, but which
Charlotte caught a glimpse of. She resolved to follow the clue, and
never to rest till she had reached a successful issue. With the forced
calm of a suppressed eagerness, that sends a glow of desire through every
word of the following letter, she wrote to her aunt thus.

"Dear Aunt,

"Sept. 29th, 1841.

"I have heard nothing of Miss W--- yet since I wrote to her,
intimating that I would accept her offer. I cannot conjecture the
reason of this long silence, unless some unforeseen impediment has
occurred in concluding the bargain. Meantime, a plan has been
suggested and approved by Mr. and Mrs. --- " (the father and mother of
her pupils) "and others, which I wish now to impart to you. My
friends recommend me, if I desire to secure permanent success, to
delay commencing the school for six months longer, and by all means to
contrive, by hook or by crook, to spend the intervening time in some
school on the continent. They say schools in England are so numerous,
competition so great, that without some such step towards attaining
superiority, we shall probably have a very hard struggle, and may fail
in the end. They say, moreover, that the loan o