CHAPTER IX.
Miss Brontë's visit to Miss Martineau, and estimate of her hostess—Remarks on Mr. Ruskin's "Stones of Venice"—Preparations for another visit to London—Letter to Mr. Sydney Dobell: the moors in autumn—Mr. Thackeray's second lecture at Willis's Rooms, and sensation produced by Currer Bell's appearance there—Her account of her visit to London—She breakfasts with Mr. Rogers, visits the Great Exhibition, and sees Lord Westminster's pictures—Return to Haworth and letter thence—Her comment on Mr. Thackeray's Lecture—Counsel on development of character.
CHAPTER X.
Remarks on friendship—Letter to Mrs. Gaskell on her and Miss Martineau's views of the Great Exhibition and Mr. Thackeray's lecture, and on the "Saint's Tragedy"—Miss Brontë's feelings towards children—Her comments on Mr. J. S. Mill's article on the Emancipation of Women—More illness at Haworth Parsonage—Letter on Emigration—Periodical returns of illness—Miss Wooler visits Haworth—Miss Brontë's impressions of her visit to London—Her account of the progress of Villette—Her increasing illness and sufferings during winter—Her letter on Mr. Thackeray's Esmond—Revival of sorrows and accessions of low spirits—Remarks on some recent books—Retrospect of the winter of 1851-2—Letter to Mrs. Gaskell on "Ruth."
CHAPTER XI.
Miss Brontë revisits Scarborough—Serious illness and ultimate convalescence of her father—Her own illness—"Villette" nearly completed—Further remarks on "Esmond" and "Uncle Tom's Cabin"—Letter respecting "Villette"—Another letter about "Villette"—Instance of extreme sensibility.
CHAPTER XII.
The biographer's difficulty—Deep and enduring attachment of Mr. Nicholls for Miss Brontë—Instance of her self-abnegation—She again visits London—Impressions of this visit—Letter to Mrs. Gaskell—Reception of the critiques on "Villette"—Misunderstanding with Miss Martineau—Letter on Mr. Thackeray's portrait—Visit of the Bishop of Ripon to Haworth Parsonage—Her wish to see the unfavourable critiques on her works—Her nervous shyness of strangers, and its cause—Letter on Mr. Thackeray's lectures.
CHAPTER XIII.
Letter to Mrs. Gaskell on writing fiction, etc.—The biographer's account of her visit to Haworth, and reminiscences of conversations with Miss Brontë—Letters from Miss Brontë to her friends—Her engagement to Mr. Nicholls, and preparations for the marriage—The marriage ceremony and wedding tour—Her happiness in the married state—New symptoms of illness, and their cause—The two last letters written by Mrs. Nicholls—An alarming change—Her death.