oints which are obvious to the ordinary run of people, and
which I know are not pleasing. You say she is 'clever'--'a clever
person.' How I dislike the term! It means rather a shrewd, very
ugly, meddling, talking woman . . . I feel reluctant to leave papa for
a single day. His sight diminishes weekly; and can it be wondered at
that, as he sees the most precious of his faculties leaving him, his
spirits sometimes sink? It is so hard to feel that his few and scanty
pleasures must all soon go. He has now the greatest difficulty in
either reading or writing; and then he dreads the state of dependence
to which blindness will inevitably reduce him. He fears that he will
be nothing in his parish. I try to cheer him; sometimes I succeed
temporarily, but no consolation can restore his sight, or atone for
the want of it. Still he is never peevish; never impatient; only
anxious and dejected."

For the reason just given, Charlotte declined an invitation to the only
house to which she was now ever asked to come. In answer to her
correspondent's reply to this letter, she says:--

"You thought I refused you coldly, did you? It was a queer sort of
coldness, when I would have given my ears to say Yes, and was obliged
to say No. Matters, however, are now a little changed. Anne is come
home, and her presence certainly makes me feel more at liberty. Then,
if all be well, I will come and see you. Tell me only when I must
come. Mention the week and the day. Have the kindness also to answer
the following queries, if you can. How far is it from Leeds to
Sheffield? Can you give me a notion of the cost? Of course, when I
come, you will let me enjoy your own company in peace, and not drag me
out a visiting. I have no desire at all to see your curate. I think
he must be like all the other curates I have seen; and they seem to me
a self-seeking, vain, empty race. At this blessed moment, we have no
less than three of them in Haworth parish--and there is not one to
mend another. The other day, they all three, accompanied by Mr. S.,
dropped, or rather rushed, in unexpectedly to tea. It was Monday
(baking day), and I was hot and tired; still, if they had behaved
quietly and decently, I would have served them out their tea in peace;
but they began glorifying themselves, and abusing Dissenters in such a
manner, that my temper lost its