brought them a bottle of wine and jar of preserves. She added, that
he was always good-natured to poor folks, and seemed to have a deal of
feeling and kindheartedness about him. No doubt, there are defects in
his character, but there are also good qualities . . . God bless him!
I wonder who, with his advantages, would be without his faults. I
know many of his faulty actions, many of his weak points; yet, where I
am, he shall always find rather a defender than an accuser. To be
sure, my opinion will go but a very little way to decide his
character; what of that? People should do right as far as their
ability extends. You are not to suppose, from all this, that Mr. W.
and I are on very amiable terms; we are not at all. We are distant,
cold, and reserved. We seldom speak; and when we do, it is only to
exchange the most trivial and common-place remarks."

The Mrs. B. alluded to in this letter, as in want of a governess, entered
into a correspondence with Miss Bronte, and expressed herself much
pleased with the letters she received from her, with the "style and
candour of the application," in which Charlotte had taken care to tell
her, that if she wanted a showy, elegant, or fashionable person, her
correspondent was not fitted for such a situation. But Mrs. B. required
her governess to give instructions in music and singing, for which
Charlotte was not qualified: and, accordingly, the negotiation fell
through. But Miss Bronte was not one to sit down in despair after
disappointment. Much as she disliked the life of a private governess, it
was her duty to relieve her father of the burden of her support, and this
was the only way open to her. So she set to advertising and inquiring
with fresh vigour.

In the meantime, a little occurrence took place, described in one of her
letters, which I shall give, as it shows her instinctive aversion to a
particular class of men, whose vices some have supposed she looked upon
with indulgence. The extract tells all that need be known, for the
purpose I have in view, of the miserable pair to whom it relates.

"You remember Mr. and Mrs. ---? Mrs. --- came here the other day,
with a most melancholy tale of her wretched husband's drunken,
extravagant, profligate habits. She asked Papa's advice; there was
nothing she said but ruin before them. They owed debts which they
could never pay. She expected Mr. ---'s instant dismiss