CHAPTER XIII: THE PRIMROSES

1 (p. 106) “The human heart is like indian-rubber”: In Charlotte Brontë’s novel Jane Eyre, the character Mr. Rochester makes a similar remark about the toughness of the human heart.

2 (p. 108) I began this book ... amongst them: Agnes now revises her pledge to completely disclose her thoughts, but she does so for a very good reason: It would be most improper for a young woman to reveal fully her perceptions about the man with whom she has fallen deeply in love. (It was in part Jane Eyre’s violation of this unwritten precept that caused so much consternation in reviews of the novel.)

3 (p. 109) It seemed ... ask in vain: Agnes is too devout to feel comfortable praying for her own happiness; but in asking God that her love for Mr. Weston be requited she is praying, in effect, for his happiness—a more laudable object.

CHAPTER XIV: THE RECTOR

1 (p. 110) a new fashionable novel: Such novels usually were about highborn characters and featured silly romantic plots. Rosalie would favor such nonsense and perhaps is influenced by it in her own conduct with Sir Thomas.

2 (p. 114) “reformed rakes make the best husbands, every body knows”: This was a common proverb at the time. The title character of Pamela, a novel by the English writer Samuel Richardson (1689-1761), makes the same remark; her experience, unlike Rosalie’s, eventually proves it true.

CHAPTER XV: THE WALK

1 (p. 124) Berlin wool: The reference is to the same type of woolwork as described above in footnotes on p. 56 and p. 63; in this case, the errand is but a pretext for Rosalie to meet her beaux.

CHAPTER XVII: CONFESSIONS

1 (p. 142) The footsteps ... when it was reared: This passage seems interpolated without much justification, since we have never heard before of Agnes’s poetry writing—nor will we again; but it does seem in keeping with Anne Brontë’s practice. This poem is often assumed to be a response to the sudden death, in 1842, of the supposed object of Anne’s affections, William Weightman, her father’s curate at the time.

CHAPTER XVIII: MIRTH AND MOURNING

1 (p. 153) Being too late for the last coach... rugged hills: Each conveyance is more primitive than the last.

CHAPTER XIX: THE LETTER

1 (p. 155) “will you be willing to leave your present situation and try?”: The Brontë sisters had planned to open such a school; theirs, however, was a complete failure.

CHAPTER XX: THE FAREWELL

1 (p. 158) A—, the fashionable watering place: This is a reference to a vacation spot modeled on Scarborough, a popular Yorkshire resort on the North Sea where Anne Brontë spent pleasant summer holidays with the Robinsons (see “Introduction” for Anne’s relationship with this family) and also where she went to die.

CHAPTER XXI: THE SCHOOL

1 (p. 167) “my reward shall be hereafter”: This is a key moment in Agnes’s moral progress: She must give up happiness as a goal in life, instead accepting her Christian duty to minister to the needs of others.

CHAPTER XXII: THE VISIT

1 (p. 172) “but rather... dine with us occasionally”: Rosalie clearly is embarrassed that her guests will see her old governess. Agnes takes the hint and generously offers to take her meals alone.

Date: 2015-12-18; view: 653