I forget God, and will not God forget me? And, meantime, I know the
greatness of Jehovah; I acknowledge the perfection of His word; I
adore the purity of the Christian faith; my theory is right, my
practice horribly wrong."
The Christmas holidays came, and she and Anne returned to the parsonage,
and to that happy home circle in which alone their natures expanded;
amongst all other people they shrivelled up more or less. Indeed, there
were only one or two strangers who could be admitted among the sisters
without producing the same result. Emily and Anne were bound up in their
lives and interests like twins. The former from reserve, the latter from
timidity, avoided all friendships and intimacies beyond their family.
Emily was impervious to influence; she never came in contact with public
opinion, and her own decision of what was right and fitting was a law for
her conduct and appearance, with which she allowed no one to interfere.
Her love was poured out on Anne, as Charlotte's was on her. But the
affection among all the three was stronger than either death or life.
"E." was eagerly welcomed by Charlotte, freely admitted by Emily, and
kindly received by Anne, whenever she could visit them; and this
Christmas she had promised to do so, but her coming had to be delayed on
account of a little domestic accident detailed in the following letter:--
"Dec.
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