your mother and I used to play and you can all share it, but next time you go to Keighley you may each buy a new piece.”
Emily is so overwhelmed with gratitude that she surprises Aunt and herself by planting a kiss on the old lady’s dry cheek.
The new arrival changes things, more for Emily and Anne as it turns out, as, after an initial burst of enthusiasm, Branwell goes back to playing the church organ, which he prefers.
“It’s so much grander,” he tells them.
Emily’s not surprised. It’s typical of Branwell to want to make a great noise and to show off what he can do with such a complicated instrument. But in this case, it’s all to the good — it means more time at the piano for her and Anne.
Branwell does join in when they play a piece he’s found called The Battle of Prague , which Papa, with his fondness for all things military, enjoys listening to. He often requests a performance in the evening.
Emily plays the piano and Branwell, as narrator, shouts out the various stages of the battle between the Prussians and the Imperialists such as “Call for the cavalry!” and “The attack!” while banging a saucepan lid with a wooden spoon to represent the drums.
Tabby always comes in to hear this one, nodding her head and tapping her foot in time to the music, but Aunt says it gives her a headache and the merest hint that it might be played sends her scurrying upstairs. No one’s sorry. Without her restraining presence it’s so much more enjoyable and they can be as exuberant as they like.
Gradually, over the weeks that follow, Emily and Anne make headway with their small but precious stock of music. Squashed together on the stool, they have fun playing duets. Emily is also happy to accompany her sister’s singing, despite the fact Anne has a marked preference for solemn hymns. Though her voice isn’t very strong, it’s sweet, and often of an evening Papa will ask her to sing for him, liking the old ballads and folk songs best.
Emily’s delighted to see Papa’s worn face lighting up with pleasure as he nods his head in time to the music. If she comes safely home, Charlotte will be pleased to see Papa at ease like this, even if it’s only for a little while, and it will be lovely to have her join them in all these musical activities.
But what Emily treasures most are the times when she can get the piano to herself.
Not content to play any old how just to amuse herself, as Branwell does, she tackles each new piece methodically, working away at it until she’s mastered it, until she can play it without thinking.
When she reaches that point, she finds the music tremendously consoling — she can let out all her pent-up feelings, forgetting her anxieties about what may happen to Charlotte and Papa. Sometimes she gets so carried away she loses herself entirely.
Those are the best times.
Mr. Sunderland comes to the house now and gives them individual lessons. One day as he’s leaving, Papa stops him in the hall and Emily hears Papa thanking the teacher for his part in their progress.
“Branwell — he’s coming on, isn’t he?” There’s a note of pride in Papa’s voice.
“Mmm.” Mr. Sunderland sounds less than enthusiastic. “The boy has talent, but he should practice more diligently. He would do well to take a leaf out of Miss Emily’s book.”
“Emily?” Papa sounds surprised.
“Yes. She has the makings of a true musician. Good day to you, Mr. Brontë.”
Long after the door has closed on Mr. Sunderland, Emily sits transfixed on the piano stool, cheeks glowing at his unexpected words.
She can hardly believe it, but it seems that she has stumbled into something that she can do well, and apparently better even than Branwell.
She hugs the knowledge to herself like a delicious secret.
Winter begins to loosen its grip and the days begin to lengthen. But Emily still misses Charlotte and constantly worries about how her sister is getting on. Is she keeping warm? Is she getting
Emily is so overwhelmed with gratitude that she surprises Aunt and herself by planting a kiss on the old lady’s dry cheek.
The new arrival changes things, more for Emily and Anne as it turns out, as, after an initial burst of enthusiasm, Branwell goes back to playing the church organ, which he prefers.
“It’s so much grander,” he tells them.
Emily’s not surprised. It’s typical of Branwell to want to make a great noise and to show off what he can do with such a complicated instrument. But in this case, it’s all to the good — it means more time at the piano for her and Anne.
Branwell does join in when they play a piece he’s found called The Battle of Prague , which Papa, with his fondness for all things military, enjoys listening to. He often requests a performance in the evening.
Emily plays the piano and Branwell, as narrator, shouts out the various stages of the battle between the Prussians and the Imperialists such as “Call for the cavalry!” and “The attack!” while banging a saucepan lid with a wooden spoon to represent the drums.
Tabby always comes in to hear this one, nodding her head and tapping her foot in time to the music, but Aunt says it gives her a headache and the merest hint that it might be played sends her scurrying upstairs. No one’s sorry. Without her restraining presence it’s so much more enjoyable and they can be as exuberant as they like.
Gradually, over the weeks that follow, Emily and Anne make headway with their small but precious stock of music. Squashed together on the stool, they have fun playing duets. Emily is also happy to accompany her sister’s singing, despite the fact Anne has a marked preference for solemn hymns. Though her voice isn’t very strong, it’s sweet, and often of an evening Papa will ask her to sing for him, liking the old ballads and folk songs best.
Emily’s delighted to see Papa’s worn face lighting up with pleasure as he nods his head in time to the music. If she comes safely home, Charlotte will be pleased to see Papa at ease like this, even if it’s only for a little while, and it will be lovely to have her join them in all these musical activities.
But what Emily treasures most are the times when she can get the piano to herself.
Not content to play any old how just to amuse herself, as Branwell does, she tackles each new piece methodically, working away at it until she’s mastered it, until she can play it without thinking.
When she reaches that point, she finds the music tremendously consoling — she can let out all her pent-up feelings, forgetting her anxieties about what may happen to Charlotte and Papa. Sometimes she gets so carried away she loses herself entirely.
Those are the best times.
Mr. Sunderland comes to the house now and gives them individual lessons. One day as he’s leaving, Papa stops him in the hall and Emily hears Papa thanking the teacher for his part in their progress.
“Branwell — he’s coming on, isn’t he?” There’s a note of pride in Papa’s voice.
“Mmm.” Mr. Sunderland sounds less than enthusiastic. “The boy has talent, but he should practice more diligently. He would do well to take a leaf out of Miss Emily’s book.”
“Emily?” Papa sounds surprised.
“Yes. She has the makings of a true musician. Good day to you, Mr. Brontë.”
Long after the door has closed on Mr. Sunderland, Emily sits transfixed on the piano stool, cheeks glowing at his unexpected words.
She can hardly believe it, but it seems that she has stumbled into something that she can do well, and apparently better even than Branwell.
She hugs the knowledge to herself like a delicious secret.
Winter begins to loosen its grip and the days begin to lengthen. But Emily still misses Charlotte and constantly worries about how her sister is getting on. Is she keeping warm? Is she getting
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