The
children were delicate; both had but recently recovered from the
measles and whooping-cough--so recently, indeed, that doubts were
entertained whether they could be admitted with safety to the other
pupils. They were received, however, and went on so well that in
September their father returned, bringing with him two more of his
children--Charlotte, 9 [she was really but 8] and Emily, 6 years of
age. During both these visits Mr. Bronte lodged at the school, sat
at the same table with the children, saw the whole routine of the
establishment, and, so far as I have ever known, was satisfied with
everything that came under his observation.
'"The two younger children enjoyed uniformly good health." Charlotte
was a general favourite. To the best of my recollection she was
never under disgrace, however slight; punishment she certainly did
_not _experience while she was at Cowan Bridge.
'In size, Charlotte was remarkably diminutive; and if, as has been
recently asserted, she never grew an inch after leaving the Clergy
Daughters' School, she must have been a _literal dwarf_, and could
not have obtained a situation as teacher in a school at Brussels, or
anywhere else; the idea is absurd. In respect of the treatment of
the pupils at Cowan Bridge, I will say that neither Mr.
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