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tried one publishing house more … Messrs。 Smith； Elder and Co。 Ere long；
in a much shorter space than that on which experience had taught her to
calculate … there came a letter； which she opened in the dreary expectation
of finding two hard； hopeless lines； intimating that Messrs。 Smith； Elder
and Co。 'were not disposed to publish the MS。；' and； instead； she took out
of the envelope a letter of two pages。 She read it trembling。 It declined；
indeed； to publish that tale； for business reasons； but it discussed its merits
and demerits so courteously； so considerately； in a spirit so rational； with a
discrimination so enlightened； that this very refusal cheered the author
better than a vulgarly expressed acceptance would have done。 It was added；
that a work in three volumes would meet with careful attention。
I was then just completing 'Jane Eyre；' at which I had been working
while the one…volume tale was plodding its weary round in London： in
three weeks I sent it off； friendly and skilful hands took it in。 This was in
the commencement of September； 1847； it came out before the close of
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October following； while 'Wuthering Heights' and 'Agnes Grey；' my
sisters' works； which had already been in the press for months； still
lingered under a different management。
They appeared at last。 Critics failed to do them justice。 The immature
but very real powers revealed in 'Wuthering Heights' were scarcely
recognised； its import and nature were misunderstood； the identity of its
author was misrepresented； it was said that this was an earlier and ruder
attempt of the same pen which had produced 'Jane Eyre。' Unjust and
grievous error！ We laughed at it at first； but I deeply lament it now。 Hence；
I fear； arose a prejudice against the book。 That writer who could attempt to
palm off an inferior and immature production under cover of one
successful effort； must indeed be unduly eager after the secondary and
sordid result of authorship； and pitiably indifferent to its true and
honourable meed。 If reviewers and the public truly believed this； no
wonder that they looked darkly on the cheat。
Yet I must not be understood to make these things subject for reproach
or complaint； I dare not do so； respect for my sister's memory forbids me。
By her any such querulous manifestation would have been regarded as an
unworthy and offensive weakness。
It is my duty； as well as my pleasure； to acknowledge one exception to
the general rule of criticism。 One writer； endowed with the keen vision and
fine sympathies of genius； has discerned the real nature of 'Wuthering
Heights；' and has； with equal accuracy； noted its beauties and touched on
its faults。 Too often do reviewers remind us of the mob of Astrologers；
Chaldeans； and Soothsayers gathered before the 'writing on the wall；' and
unable to read the characters or make known the interpretation。 We have a
right to rejoice when a true seer comes at last； some man in whom is an
excellent spirit； to whom have been given light； wisdom； and
understanding； who can accurately read the 'Mene； Mene； Tekel； Upharsin'
of an original mind （however unripe； however inefficiently cultured and
partially expanded that mind may be）； and who can say with confidence；
'This is the interpretation thereof。
Yet even the writer to whom I allude shares the mistake about the
authorship； and does me the injustice to suppose that there was equivoque
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in my former rejection of this honour （as an honour I regard it）。 May I
assure him that I would scorn in this and in every other case to deal in
equivoque； I believe language to have been given us to make our meaning
clear； and not to wrap it in dishonest doubt？
'The Tenant of Wildfell Hall；' by Acton Bell； had likewise an
unfavourable reception。 At this I cannot wonder。 The choice of subject was
an entire mistake。 Nothing less congruous with the writer's nature could be
conceived。 The motives which dictated this choice were pure； but； I think；
slightly morbid。 She had； in the course of her life； been called on to
contemplate； near at hand； and for a long time； the terrible effects of
talents misused and faculties abused： hers was naturally a sensitive；
reserved； and dejected nature； what she saw sank very deeply into her
mind； it did her harm。 She brooded over it till she believed it to be a duty
to reproduce every detail （of course with fictitious characters； incidents；
and situations）； as a warning to others。 She hated her work； but would
pursue it。 When reasoned with on the subject； she regarded such
reasonings as a temptation to self… indulgence。 She must be honest； she
must not varnish； soften； nor conceal。 This well…meant resolution brought
on her misconstruction； and some abuse； which she bore； as it was her
custom to bear whatever was unpleasant； with mild； steady patience。 She
was a very sincere； and practical Christian； but the tinge of religious
melancholy communicated a sad shade to her brief； blameless life。
Neither Ellis nor Acton allowed herself for one moment to sink under
want of encouragement； energy nerved the one； and endurance upheld the
other。 They were both prepared to try again； I would fain think that hope
and the sense of power were yet strong within them。 But a great change
approached； affliction came in that shape which to anticipate is dread； to
look back on； grief。 In the very heat and burden of the day； the labourers
failed over their work。
My sister Emily first declined。 The details of her illness are deep…
branded in my memory； but to dwell on them； either in thought or
narrative； is not in my power。 Never in all her life had she lingered over
any task that lay before her； and she did not linger now。 She sank rapidly。
She made haste to leave us。 Yet； while physically she perished； mentally
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