accustomed to the language, these English sisters went
daily, through the holidays, to the pensionnat in the Rue d'Isabelle. Six
or eight boarders remained, besides the Miss Brontes. They were there
during the whole time, never even having the break to their monotonous
life, which passing an occasional day with a friend would have afforded
them; but devoting themselves with indefatigable diligence to the
different studies in which they were engaged. Their position in the
school appeared, to these new comers, analogous to what is often called
that of a parlour-boarder. They prepared their French, drawing, German,
and literature for their various masters; and to these occupations Emily
added that of music, in which she was somewhat of a proficient; so much
so as to be qualified to give instruction in it to the three younger
sisters of my informant.

The school was divided into three classes. In the first were from
fifteen to twenty pupils; in the second, sixty was about the average
number--all foreigners, excepting the two Brontes and one other; in the
third, there were from twenty to thirty pupils. The first and second
classes occupied a long room, divided by a wooden partition; in each
division were four long ranges of desks; and at the end was the
_estrade_, or platform, for the presiding instructor. On the last row,
in the quietest corner, sat Charlotte and Emily, side by side, so deeply
absorbed in their studies as to be insensible to any noise or movement
around them. The school-hours were from nine to twelve (the luncheon
hour), when the boarders and half-boarders--perhaps two-and-thirty
girls--went to the refectoire (a room with two long tables, having an oil-
lamp suspended over each), to partake of bread and fruit; the _externes_,
or morning pupils, who had brought their own refreshment with them,
adjourning to eat it in the garden. From one to two, there was fancy-
work--a pupil reading aloud some light literature in each room; from two
to four, lessons again. At four, the externes left; and the remaining
girls dined in the refectoire, M. and Madame Heger presiding. From five
to six there was recreation, from six to seven, preparation for lessons;
and, after that succeeded the _lecture pieuse_--Charlotte's nightmare. On
rare occasions, M. Heger himself would come in, and substitute a book of
a different and more interesting kind. At eight, there was a slight meal
of water and _pistolets_ (the delic