mstance, but _I_ have not, for from them I received a brief and
business-like, but civil and sensible reply, on which we acted, and at
last made way."

I inquired from Mr. Robert Chambers, and found, as Miss Bronte
conjectured, that he had entirely forgotten the application which had
been made to him and his brother for advice; nor had they any copy or
memorandum of the correspondence.

There is an intelligent man living in Haworth, who has given me some
interesting particulars relating to the sisters about this period. He
says:--

"I have known Miss Bronte, as Miss Bronte, a long time; indeed, ever
since they came to Haworth in 1819. But I had not much acquaintance with
the family till about 1843, when I began to do a little in the stationery
line. Nothing of that kind could be had nearer than Keighley before I
began. They used to buy a great deal of writing paper, and I used to
wonder whatever they did with so much. I sometimes thought they
contributed to the Magazines. When I was out of stock, I was always
afraid of their coming; they seemed so distressed about it, if I had
none. I have walked to Halifax (a distance of ten miles) many a time,
for half a ream of paper, for fear of being without it when they came. I
could not buy more at a time for want of capital. I was always short of
that. I did so like them to come when I had anything for them; they were
so much different to anybody else; so gentle and kind, and so very quiet.
They never talked much. Charlotte sometimes would sit and inquire about
our circumstances so kindly and feelingly! . . . Though I am a poor
working man (which I have never felt to be any degradation), I could talk
with her with the greatest freedom. I always felt quite at home with
her. Though I never had any school education, I never felt the want of
it in her company."

The publishers to whom she finally made a successful application for the
production of "Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell's poems," were Messrs.
Aylott and Jones, Paternoster Row. Mr. Aylott has kindly placed the
letters which she wrote to them on the subject at my disposal. The first
is dated January 28th, 1846, and in it she inquires if they will publish
one volume octavo of poems; if not at their own risk, on the author's
account. It is signed "C. Bronte." They must have replied pretty
speedily, for on January 31st she writes again:--

"GENTLEMEN,

"Since you agree to undertake the publication of