SIR,—I am grateful for Mr, Watson's interest- ing review of
my book on Charlotte Brontë, Passionate Search. On one point I feel that 1 have been misunderstood. In writing of Emily's 'coming to terms' with life I meant this as applying only to the circumstances of her own personal life. In other words, the meaning 1 should have conveyed was that
Emily managed to achieve happiness by accept- ing life on her own terms, i.e., by detaching herself from a disappointing reality and living in a dream world.
I agree with your reviewer that it was Char- lotte who eventually did come to terms with reality. But this capitulation was not whole- hearted. It was long-drawn-out and agonising, and she reached it only at an immense cost, wearing herself out in the process. It was Emily who, following the more selfish path. achieved the greater security. — Yours faith- fully,
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