Emily Bronte Part IV

Charlotte had taken jobs as a governess and knew how difficult it was, for a woman of her intelligence to live in someone else's home, to put up with spoiled children, and to be snubbed by the parents who were often rude to governesses. Emily stayed home most of the time, not taking any jobs, outside, but she did earn her keep by helping with the housekeeping. The girls decided that if they set up a school, they would need more education and accomplishments. So they wished to go and work and learn at a school abroad. Charlotte had made friends at Miss Woolers with Mary Taylor, the daughter of a rich businessman, who was now attending a school in Brussels. So she asked her Aunt Branwell to lend them some money to go to a Brussels school. It was decided that Emily should go with Charlotte. Anne might attend later. Emily knew that she would not enjoy living abroad and going away from her home. It's not clear how practical was the school scheme. Charlotte said that Emily would run things and keep house. The parsonage was not very big and Patrick was reclusive in his habits, and Branwell was not likely to be any help. So it's possible that the school would never have worked out. Aunt Branwell was however willing to lend money and the girls went off to Brussels. Emily took advantage of the opportunity to learn more, she worked hard and won some admiration from the husband of Madame Heger. In spite of her intelligence, she had been a terrible speller, and she probably benefitted from a more rigid teaching scheme. She taught music to younger pupils, and wrote several essays in French which have survived. She did not seem to care for the city or the other pupils. She was abrupt and gruff with people and just wanted to use the time to study and improve her writing, so she made no friends at the school or in the English community. When Aunt Branwell became ill and died, the girls returned home. Emily never left again. She devoted herself to her writing and took over the housekeeping.. assisted by the aging Tabby and a couple of young girls.. including one called Martha Brown.