Devotion Page #5

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dangerous sport of foxhunting?

Really, sir.

Your humour is out of place.

Oh, Sir John, don't

take me so seriously.

John!

Lady Thornton! Haven't seen you

at The Bull lately. Bull?

Young man, I think you'd better leave.

Lady Thornton, if you come along and

show me where you've hidden the drinks.

I might save the

supper dance just for you.

Mr Bront, there will be neither dancing

nor drinking for you here tonight.

Come on, Branwell. Excuse me.

Sorry old fellow, I'm ..

Going home.

Before I've had a drink?

They're serving drinks on the terrace.

Well, why didn't you say so?

Goodbye, Lady Thornton. I'll be back.

Good evening Lady Thornton.

It was very pleasant.

Good evening, Lady Thornton.

There's not a drink in

sight as far as I can see.

Never mind about that, now.

But I do mind.

Come on, Branwell. You've

had enough for one night.

Stop mollycoddling me!

Be reasonable. Pull yourself together.

Let me go, you!

If I were a man, you would have

to answer for this, Mr Nicholls.

A change of sex could hardly make you

more unjust than you are at this moment.

Please, let's go home.

The whole village is talking about it.

I cannot allow my Curates to be

involved in scandals of this sort.

I'm afraid you'll have to go, Nichols.

Very well, sir.

Just a moment, Mr Nicholls.

Father.

I claim full responsibility for the

lamentable happenings of last evening.

Mr Nicholls action was prompted by his

desire to spare my sisters more disgrace.

Indeed, he took the only course

possible for a gentleman.

I did not employ Mr Nicholls

as a gentleman.

And as for you, sir. I should prefer

not see your face for a very long time.

Such talk cannot hurt me, father.

I am already too numbed

by the great blows of destiny.

The toe of my boot

should be your destiny.

Nicholls .. you may stay.

But in the future,

keep your fists to yourself.

He should have cracked your skull.

I thank you for your honesty.

It was nothing.

Can you lend me a shilling?

No.

No.

One can hardly expect a clergyman

to practice the charity he preaches.

You are not nearly as bad as you imagine.

I do not imagine myself to be bad at all.

I am much misjudged by my sisters.

Who I have no doubt have already

poisoned your mind against me.

Ungrateful wretches.

What have you ever done

to earn their gratitude?

If I had any money, I should

do a great deal. What?

Anything that would take them and their

tedious enthusiasms out of this house.

You know, Branwell. I've never

seen any of your pictures.

[ door knocks ]

Yes?

Why, Miss Emily.

Good afternoon, Mr Nicholls.

Please come in. Thank you.

Tabby just baked this cake.

She thought you'd like to

take it to that poor family ..

On Leyton Street

when you visit them.

That was very thoughtful of Tabby.

And very kind of you to bring it.

Please sit down.

We haven't seen much of you over

these past few days, Mr Nicholls.

I imagine my presence at the Vicarage

will occasion nothing but embarrassment.

You must not let yourself

be intimidated by Charlotte.

In any case, she's so excited by

this morning's good news that ..

Our misfortunes at Thornton

House are all but forgotten.

Branwell, has sold his

picture .. "The Castaway".

Oh .. please offer him my

warmest congratulations.

He has most generously offered to

send Charlotte and me to Brussels.

We are to complete our education

there at the "Pension Heger".

That is splendid of Branwell.

I'm very pleased.

I realize how much this must

mean to you and Miss Bront.

Charlotte is delighted.

And you are not?

But Miss Emily, I thought it

was your aim, your dream.

Dreams that come true, are no

longer dreams, Mr Nicholls.

But think, Miss Emily ..

I can only think that even

now it is not too late.

Anne could go in my place.

Tell me I need not go, Mr Nicholls.

I'm afraid I can't tell

you that, Miss Emily.

And it will give me intense pleasure to

acquaint that insufferable Mr Nicholls ..

With Branwell's magnificent gesture.

I like Mr Nicholls. I think he's

a gentleman of great integrity.

He is not a gentleman at all.

Let us get on with Emily's

things .. dear Emily.

What a wonderful experience

this will be for her.

[ French language ]

Perfect. Monsieur Heger

will be delighted.

Delight is an emotion

unknown to Monsieur Heger.

You are quite wrong.

Possibly, Charlotte.

Why don't you like Monsieur Heger?

Too much head .. too little heart.

If you were married to Madame Heger ..

Speak a little louder, Charlotte.

I do not think Giselle could quite

hear what you were saying.

That was rude, Emily.

I cannot endure the superior airs

affected by the French girls here.

Anyone would think they had won Waterloo.

Ah, Mademoiselle Charlotte.

Yes, Monsieur Heger?

I have read your notebook. Every word.

Thank you, Monsieur.

I appreciate the honour of

letting me into your mind.

It is a most beautiful world, and you

have a real talent for expressing it.

That is a great compliment from a critic

of your standards if you really mean it.

But I do .. you have made a

brilliant and original discovery.

I, a discovery?

And what is that Monsieur?

That "woman" is actually the lover.

And not merely the one who is loved.

As writers have tried to

prove for thousands of years.

But women have always known

that to be so, Monsieur.

Of course, and men have always

tried to conceal it from them.

The extraordinary thing is.

That it should first be

revealed by an English girl.

Now, to get back to your

notebook. I also noticed ..

Charlotte.

Must you parade your popularity with

Mr Heger in front of these awful girls?

You know how it infuriates me.

Why should I be secretive about

a friendship I value very highly?

Now Mademoiselle Blanche,

what is your complaint?

Well, Madame Heger.

Because those English girls are

permitted to give a few lessons ..

They seem to have forgotten that

they are still only pupils here.

Mademoiselle Charlotte

is a dangerous one.

Always running to Monsieur Heger

with her little "suggestions".

Trying to impress him

with her own efficiency.

I think you have formed an inaccurate

estimate of Mlle. Charlotte's character.

I may be wrong, of course.

Perhaps Mademoiselle Charlotte's

pursuit of Monsieur Heger.

Is prompted by her desire

to improve her French.

Mademoiselle Charlotte is a

pupil of unusual brilliance.

We have great hopes for her future.

Yes, she certainly is a

young lady to be watched.

She is very young. Sometimes a

little headstrong, a little impetuous.

But her intentions are

I am sure, excellent.

I don't anticipate any trouble

from Mademoiselle Charlotte.

You may go, Mademoiselle Blanche.

Oui. C'est tres bien, Madame.

Asseyez vous, mes enfants.

Good afternoon, Miss Charlotte.

The lesson goes well, yes?

Yes thank you, Madame Heger.

They are reciting some verse now.

Ah .. some of your own, perhaps?

What makes you think

I write verse, Madame?

A little bird told me.

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