She was "a hungry, good-natured, ordinary girl;" older than Charlotte, and ever ready to protect her from any petty tyranny or encroachments on the part of the elder girls.
Charlotte always remembered her with affection and gratitude.
I have quoted the word "bright" in the account of Charlotte.

I suspect that this year of 1825 was the last time it could ever be applied to her.
In the spring of it, Maria became so rapidly worse that Mr.Bronte was sent for.

He had not previously been aware of her illness, and the condition in which he found her was a terrible shock to him.

He took her home by the Leeds coach, the girls crowding out into the road to follow her with their eyes over the bridge, past the cottages, and then out of sight for ever.

She died a very few days after her arrival at home.
Perhaps the news of her death falling suddenly into the life of which her patient existence had formed a part, only a little week or so before, made those who remained at Cowan Bridge look with more anxiety on Elizabeth's symptoms, which also turned out to be consumptive.