The stairs, too, I believe, are made of stone; and no wonder, when stone quarries are near, and trees are far to seek.

I have heard that Miss Branwell always went about the house in pattens, clicking up and down the stairs, from her dread of catching cold.

For the same reason, in the latter years of her life, she passed nearly all her time, and took most of her meals, in her bedroom.
The children respected her, and had that sort of affection for her which is generated by esteem; but I do not think they ever freely loved her.

It was a severe trial for any one at her time of life to change neighbourhood and habitation so entirely as she did; and the greater her merit.
I do not know whether Miss Branwell taught her nieces anything besides sewing, and the household arts in which Charlotte afterwards was such an adept.

Their regular lessons were said to their father; and they were always in the habit of picking up an immense amount of miscellaneous information for themselves.