Their feelings are not easily roused, but their duration is
lasting. Hence there is much close friendship and faithful service; and
for a correct exemplification of the form in which the latter frequently
appears, I need only refer the reader of "Wuthering Heights" to the
character of "Joseph."
From the same cause come also enduring grudges, in some cases amounting
to hatred, which occasionally has been bequeathed from generation to
generation. I remember Miss Bronte once telling me that it was a saying
round about Haworth, "Keep a stone in thy pocket seven year; turn it, and
keep it seven year longer, that it may be ever ready to thine hand when
thine enemy draws near."
The West Riding men are sleuth-hounds in pursuit of money. Miss Bronte
related to my husband a curious instance illustrative of this eager
desire for riches. A man that she knew, who was a small manufacturer,
had engaged in many local speculations which had always turned out well,
and thereby rendered him a person of some wealth. He was rather past
middle age, when he bethought him of insuring his life; and he had only
just taken out his policy, when he fell ill of an acute disease which was
certain to end fatally in a very few days. The doctor,
half-hesitatingly, revealed to him his hopeless state. "By jingo!" cried
he, rousing up at once into the old energy, "I shall _do_ the insurance
company! I always was a lucky fellow!"
These men are keen and shrewd; faithful and persevering in following out
a good purpose, fell in tracking an evil one.
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