I have walked to Halifax (a distance of ten miles) many a time,
for half a ream of paper, for fear of being without it when they came. I
could not buy more at a time for want of capital. I was always short of
that. I did so like them to come when I had anything for them; they were
so much different to anybody else; so gentle and kind, and so very quiet.
They never talked much. Charlotte sometimes would sit and inquire about
our circumstances so kindly and feelingly! . . . Though I am a poor
working man (which I have never felt to be any degradation), I could talk
with her with the greatest freedom. I always felt quite at home with
her. Though I never had any school education, I never felt the want of
it in her company."
The publishers to whom she finally made a successful application for the
production of "Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell's poems," were Messrs.
Aylott and Jones, Paternoster Row. Mr. Aylott has kindly placed the
letters which she wrote to them on the subject at my disposal. The first
is dated January 28th, 1846, and in it she inquires if they will publish
one volume octavo of poems; if not at their own risk, on the author's
account. It is signed "C. Bronte." They must have replied pretty
speedily, for on January 31st she writes again:--
"GENTLEMEN,
"Since you agree to undertake the publication of the work respecting
which I applied to you, I should wish now to know, as soon as possible,
the cost of paper and printing.
Pages:
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376