m: but Jessy lay cold, coffined, solitary--only the sod screening
her from the storm."

This was the first death that had occurred in the small circle of
Charlotte's immediate and intimate friends since the loss of her two
sisters long ago. She was still in the midst of her deep sympathy with
"Mary," when word came from home that her aunt, Miss Branwell, was
ailing--was very ill. Emily and Charlotte immediately resolved to go
home straight, and hastily packed up for England, doubtful whether they
should ever return to Brussels or not, leaving all their relations with
M. and Madame Heger, and the pensionnat, uprooted, and uncertain of any
future existence. Even before their departure, on the morning after they
received the first intelligence of illness--when they were on the very
point of starting--came a second letter, telling them of their aunt's
death. It could not hasten their movements, for every arrangement had
been made for speed. They sailed from Antwerp; they travelled night and
day, and got home on a Tuesday morning. The funeral and all was over,
and Mr. Bronte and Anne were sitting together, in quiet grief for the
loss of one who had done her part well in their household for nearly
twenty years, and earned the regard and respect of many who never knew
how much they should miss her till she was gone. The small property
which she had accumulated, by dint of personal frugality and self-denial,
was bequeathed to her nieces. Branwell, her darling, was to have had his
share; but his reckless expenditure had distressed the good old lady, and
his name was omitted in her will.

When the first shock was over, the three sisters began to enjoy the full
relish of meeting again, after the longest separation they had had in
their lives. They had much to tell of the past, and much to settle for
the future. Anne had been for some little time in a situation, to which
she was to return at the end of the Christmas holidays. For another year
or so they were again to be all three apart; and, after that, the happy
vision of being together and opening a school was to be realised. Of
course they did not now look forward to settling at Burlington, or any
other place which would take them away from their father; but the small
sum which they each independently possessed would enable them to effect
such alterations in the parsonage-house at Haworth as would adapt it to
the reception of pupils. Anne's plans for the interval