ffidence. Were she destined to enjoy an independent, easy
existence, she might respect her natural disposition to seek
retirement, and even cherish it as a shade-loving virtue; but since
that is not her lot, since she is fated to make her way in the crowd,
and to depend on herself, she should say: I will try and learn the
art of self-possession, not that I may display my accomplishments,
but that I may have the satisfaction of feeling that I am my own
mistress, and can move and speak undaunted by the fear of man.
While, however, I pen this piece of advice, I confess that it is much
easier to give than to follow. What the sensations of the nervous
are under the gaze of publicity none but the nervous know; and how
powerless reason and resolution are to control them would sound
incredible except to the actual sufferers.

'The rumours you mention respecting the authorship of _Jane Eyre_
amused me inexpressibly. The gossips are, on this subject, just
where I should wish them to be, _i.e._, as far from the truth as
possible; and as they have not a grain of fact to found their
fictions upon, they fabricate pure inventions. Judge Erle must, I
think, have made up his story expressly for a hoax; the other _fib_
is amazing--so circumstantial! called on the author, forsooth! Where
did he live, I wonder? In what purlieu of Cockayne? Here I must
stop, lest if I run on further I should fill another sheet.--Believe
me, yours sincerely,

'CURRER BELL.

'_P.S._--I must, after all, add a morsel of paper, for I find, on
glancing over yours, that I have forgotten to answer a question you
ask respecting my next work. I have not therein so far treated of
governesses, as I do not wish it to resemble its predecessor. I
often wish to say something about the "condition of women" question,
but it is one respecting which so much "cant" has been talked, that
one feels a sort of repugnance to approach it. It is true enough
that the present market for female labour is quite overstocked, but
where or how could another be opened? Many say that the professions
now filled only by men should be open to women also; but are not
their present occupants and candidates more than numerous enough to
answer every demand? Is there any room for female lawyers,