Well, yes, I suppose so, I said. But-why do you want to do this. Isn’t it better to work as governesses, in some big fine house.
Oh no, papa. All three spoke at once. Anne had stopped playing, and Emily looked very angry and frightening. I could see they had thought hard about this.
Charlotte said, The life of a governess is terrible, papa. A governess has no time of her own, no friends, no one to talk to, and if she gets angry with the children, they just run to their mother. I couldn’t possibly be a governess all my life.
It’s true, papa. Anne said. It’s an awful life. We’re so lonely away from each other. Why can’t we have a school , and all live here. Then we can take care of you and Aunt Branwell when you get old.
I looked at Emily. Her eyes were shining; I could see that the idea was important to her too.
But why will people send their children here. I asked. Haworth is not a big town, or a beautiful place. How will you find children to teach.
We have thought of that too, papa, Charlotte said. We must learn more, and become better teachers. I have spoken to Aunt Branwell, and she will give us the money, if you agree. Emily and I want to go to Belgium, to learn French. If we can speak French well, then parents will send their children to us to learn that.
Emily will go. I said. I looked at her. Emily had only been away from home twice, and each time she had been very unhappy. But now she looked excited.
Yes,papa, she said. I will go. Charlotte is right - we must