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The Professor 16
late； her voice （I always take voices into the account in judging of
character） was lively—it indicated； I thought； good animal spirits。
Mr。 Crimsworth soon checked her animated scolding with a kiss—
a kiss that still told of the bridegroom （they had not yet been
married a year）； she took her seat at the supper…table in first…rate
spirits。 Perceiving me； she begged my pardon for not noticing me
before； and then shook hands with me； as ladies do when a flow of
good…humour disposes them to be cheerful to all； even the most
indifferent of their acquaintance。 It was now further obvious to me
that she had a good complexion； and features sufficiently marked
but agreeable； her hair was red—quite red。 She and Edward
talked much； always in a vein of playful contention； she was vexed；
or pretended to be vexed； that he had that day driven a vicious
horse in the gig； and he made light of her fears。 Sometimes she
appealed to me。
“‘Now； Mr。 William； isn’t it absurd in Edward to talk so？ He
says he will drive Jack； and no other horse； and the brute has
thrown him twice already。
“She spoke with a kind of lisp； not disagreeable； but childish。 I
soon saw also that there was more than girlish—a somewhat
infantine expression in her by no means small features； this lisp
and expression were； I have no doubt； a charm in Edward’s eyes；
and would be so to those： of most men； but they were not to mine。
I sought her eye； desirous to read there the intelligence which I
could not discern in her face or hear in her conversation； it was
merry； rather small； by turns I saw vivacity； vanity； coquetry； look
out through its irid； but I watched in vain for a glimpse of soul。 I
am no Oriental； white necks； carmine lips and cheeks； clusters of
bright curls； do not suffice for me without that Promethean spark
Charlotte Bronte ElecBook Classics
… Page 17…
The Professor 17
which will live after the roses and lilies are faded； the burnished
hair grown grey。 In sunshine； in prosperity； the flowers are very
well； but how many wet days are there in life—November seasons
of disaster； when a man’s hearth and home would be cold indeed；
without the clear； cheering gleam of intellect。
“Having perused the fair page of Mrs。 Crimsworth’s face； a
deep； involuntary sigh announced my disappointment； she took it
as a homage to her beauty； and Edward； who was evidently proud
of his rich and handsome young wife； threw on me a glance—half
ridicule； half ire。
“I turned from them both； and gazing wearily round the room； I
saw two pictures set in the oak panelling—one on each side the
mantel…piece。 Ceasing to take part in the bantering conversation
that flowed on between Mr。 and Mrs。 Crimsworth； I bent my
thoughts to the examination of these pictures。 They were
portraits—a lady and a gentleman； both costumed in the fashion of
twenty years ago。 The gentleman was in the shade。 I could not see
him well。 The lady had the benefit of a full beam from the softly
shaded lamp。 I presently recognised her； I had seen this picture
before in childhood； it was my mother； that and the companion
picture being the only heir…looms saved out of the sale of my
father’s property。
“The face； I remembered； had pleased me as a boy； but then I
did not understand it； now I knew how rare that class of face is in
the world； and I appreciated keenly its thoughtful； yet gentle
expression。 The serious grey eye possessed for me a strong charm；
as did certain lines in the features indicative of most true and
tender feeling。 I was sorry it was only a picture。
“I soon left Mr。 and Mrs。 Crimsworth to themselves； a servant
Charlotte Bronte ElecBook Classics
… Page 18…
The Professor 18
conducted me to my bed…room； in closing my chamber…door； I shut
out all intruders—you； Charles； as well as the rest。—Good…bye for
the present；
“WILLIAM CRIMSWORTH。”
To this letter I never got an answer； before my old friend
received it； he had accepted a Government appointment in one of
the colonies； and was already on his way to the scene of his official
labours。 What has become of him since； I know not。
The leisure time I have at command； and which I intended to
employ for his private benefit； I shall now dedicate to that of the
public at large。 My narrative is not exciting； and above all； not
marvellous； but it may interest some individuals； who； having
toiled in the same vocation as myself； will find in my experience
frequent reflections of their own。 The above letter will serve as an
introduction。 I now proceed。
Charlotte Bronte ElecBook Classics
… Page 19…
The Professor 19
Chapter II
fine October morning succeeded to the foggy evening that
Ahad witnessed my first introduction to Crimsworth Hall。 I
was early up and walking in the large park…like meadow
surrounding the house。 The autumn sun； rising over the —shire
hills； disclosed a pleasant country； woods brown and mellow
varied the fields from which the harvest had been lately carried； a
river； gliding between the woods； caught on its surface the
somewhat cold gleam of the October sun and sky； at frequent
intervals along the banks of the river； tall； cylindrical chimneys；
almost like slender round towers； indicated the factories which the
trees half concealed； here and there mansions； similar to
Crimsworth Hall； occupied agreeable sites on the hill…side； the
country wore； on the whole； a cheerful； active； fertile look。 Steam；
trade； machinery had long banished from it all romance and
seclusion。 At a distance of five miles； a valley； opening between the
low hills； held in its cups the great town of X—。 A dense；
permanent vapour brooded over this locality—there lay Edward’s
“Concern。”
I forced my eye to scrutinize this prospect； I forced my mind to
dwell on it for a time； and when I found that it communicated no
pleasurable emotion to my heart—that it stirred in me none of the
hopes a man ought to feel； when he sees laid before him the scene
of his life’s career—I said to myself； “William； you are a rebel
against circumstances； you are a fool； and know not what you
want； you have chosen trade and you shall be a tradesman。 Look！”
I continued mentally—“Look at the sooty smoke in that hollow；
Charlotte Bronte ElecBook Classics
… Page 20…
The Professor 20
and know that there is your post！ There you cannot dream； you
cannot speculate and theorize—there you shall out and work！”
Thus self…schooled； I returned to the house。 My brother was in
the breakfast…room。 I met him collectedly—I could not meet him
cheerfully； he was standing on the rug； his back to the fire—how
much did I read in the expression of his eye as my glance
encountered his； when I advanced to bid him good morning； how
much that was contradictory to my nature！ He said “Good
morning” abruptly and nodded； and then he snatched； rather than
took； a newspaper from the table； and began to read it with the air
of a master who seizes a pretext to escape the bore of conversing
with an underling。 It was well I had taken a resolution to endure
for a time； or his manner