3-057-418 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

The first page of Volume 2 of the manuscript of "Shirley", c1849. Charlotte Bronte's third novel. Shirley Keeldar and Caroline Helstone are the main female characters, and a close friendship develops between them. Charlotte modelled the strong-willed, spirited character of Shirley on her sister Emily. 'Chap. I Shirley and Caroline. Shirley shewed she had been sincere in saying she should be glad of Caroline's society, by frequently seeking it: and, indeed, if she had not sought it, she would not have had it; for Miss Helstone was slow to make fresh acquaintance. She was always held back by the idea that people could not want her: that she could not amuse them; and a brilliant, happy, youthful creature, like the heiress of Fieldhead, seemed to her too completely independent of society so uninteresting as hers, ever to find it really welcome. Shirley might be brilliant, and probably happy likewise, but no one is independent of genial society; and though in about a month she had made the acquaintance of most of the families round, and was on quite free and easy terms with all the Misses Sykes, and all the Misses Pearson, and the two superlative Misses Wynne, of Walden Hall; yet, it appeared, she found none amongst [them very genial...].