"In passing through London, she seemed to think our business was and
ought to be, to see all the pictures and statues we could. She knew the
artists, and know where other productions of theirs were to be found. I
don't remember what we saw except St. Paul's. Emily was like her in
these habits of mind, but certainly never took her opinion, but always
had one to offer . . . I don't know what Charlotte thought of Brussels.
We arrived in the dark, and went next morning to our respective schools
to see them. We were, of course, much preoccupied, and our prospects
gloomy. Charlotte used to like the country round Brussels. 'At the top
of every hill you see something.' She took, long solitary walks on the
occasional holidays."
Mr. Bronte took his daughters to the Rue d'Isabelle, Brussels; remained
one night at Mr. Jenkins'; and straight returned to his wild Yorkshire
village.
What a contrast to that must the Belgian capital have presented to those
two young women thus left behind! Suffering acutely from every strange
and unaccustomed contact--far away from their beloved home, and the dear
moors beyond--their indomitable will was their great support. Charlotte's
own words, with regard to Emily, are:--
"After the age of twenty, having meantime studied alone with diligence
and perseverance, she went with me to an establishment on the
continent.
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