Branwell's job at the Robinsons initially seemed like a stroke of luck. He had had a tutoring job before, but it had not lasted long... His work on the railways had come to an embarrassing end and his painting career had not been successful.
Anne was reasonably happy in her post as governess with the family. They liked her and she got on well with the girls.
Mrs Robinson's husband was not in good health, and she herself was possibly a little bored with married life and motherhood. Its hard to be certain what happened, but it seemed as if Branwell got involved with her, either as a flirtation or affair... He wrote boastful stories to his friends that his "mistress was too fond of him".. but he was inclined to boast and exaggerate.. It may well be that it was a flirtation which he took too seriously, and that Mrs Robinson just enjoyed a little amusement but had no real feelings for him... and certainly had no intentions of risking her marriage... She referred to her husband in a private book as "her angel Edmund" so she was probably happy enough with him...
At any event, Mr. Robinson dismissed Branwell and he returned to Haworth in disgrace... The family were shocked at his losing his job with a threat of scandal. Branwell was already a drinker and possibly a user of opium, and now in depression he began to drink and drug himself all the more. He bemoaned losing his beloved, at times and at other times claimed that Mrs. Robinson was madly in love with him and that she would marry him, if her husband were to die....
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