The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-15

field. who was in the doorway by the study.
near the corner in which Miss Bronte was
sitting, leant forward with little
commonplace. since brilliance was not 10 DE
the order of the evening. DO you IKE
Iondon Miss Bronte?" she said: another
silence. a pause. then Miss Bronte answers
ives and no" very grayely, and there me
conversation drops. Ny sister and were
much too young 10 be bored in those days;
alarmed. impressed we might be, but not yet
bored party was party, honess was
lioness. and-shall confess It at that time
an extra dish of buiscuits was enough 10 marx
the evening. We felt all the Importance OF
the occasion: tea spread in the dining room;
ladies in the drawing room; we roameu
about inconveniently. nodoubt. and exclteuly;
and in one Of my excursions crossing the nan
| was surprised 20 see my father open
ing the front door with his hat on. lie put
his fingers to his lips. walkedout INTO the DARK
ness. and quietly shut the door, behind MN.
When | went back TO the drawlng-room
again the ladies asked me where he was
vaguely answered that thought he was COM
ING back. was puzzled at the time, nor was
it all made clear 10 me I'LL long years AFTER
ward. when one day Mrs. Proctor asked me II
/ knew what had happened once when my IN.
ther had invited party TO meet Jane Eyre NJ
his house. 1t was one OF the uuiiest even
lie Ire she She said. And then. with a
good deal of humer, she described the situa-
ton. the ladies who had all come expecting
so much delightful conversation, and the
gloom and the constralnt, and how hnally;
overwhelmed by the situation. my father mad
quietly left the room. left the house. and gone
IN 10 his club the ladies waited, wondered. and
finally departed also: and rs we were gong up
to bed with our candles. after everybody was
gone, | remember two pretty Miss LIS, in
shiny silk dresses arriving. full of expecta-
ton We still said we thought our
father would soon s,back, but the MISS u.
declined 10 wait upon the chance, iausheo'
and drove away again almost immediately
Since writing the preceding lines nave
visited Jane Evre-land. and stayed IN the de-
lightful home where she used 10 ftay Win
Mrs. Gaskell. have seen signs and tokens
of her presence. faint sketches vanishing
away, the delicate writing IN the oeautlu
books she gave that warm friend; ana nave
also looked for and re-read the introduction TO
Emma that last sketch" and most touch:
ing chapter in the Notwithstanding book OK
paper is signed Nv. VI. IT,; it was written
bv tine editor, and is printed IN one OF the
very earliest numbers Of The Cornhill Maga-
zine"
| remember the trembling little frame, the
little hand. the great honest eyes; an lmpetu-
Gus honesty seemed TO me 10 characterize the
woman. fancied an austere little Joan
of Arc marching in upon us and rebuking our
easy lives, our easy morals. She gave me the
impression of being a very pure and loity
and high-minded person. 4 great and holy
reverence of right and truth seemed to be
with her always. Such in our brief interview
she appeared 10 me. As one thinks OF
that life. so noble, SO lonely-ot that
passion for truth-of those nights
and nights Of eager study, swarming
fancies, inventions depression elatlon ana
PRAYER: rs one reads Of the necessarily incom-
plete though most touching and admirable
history of the heart that throbbed IN this one
little framc-of this one among the myriads OF
souls that have lived and died on this great
earth-this great earth.-this little speck in the
infinite universe Of God. with what wonder do
we think of to-day. with what awe await TO-
morrow. when that which is now but ddrkly
seen shall be clear
As write out what my fathers hand has
written my gossip is hushed, and seems to me
like the lamp smoke in the old drawingroom
compared TO the light of the summers night
in the street outside.