At this time, they talked over past cares and troubles; they planned for the future, and consulted each other as to their plans.
In after years this was the time for discussing together the plots of their novels.

And again, still later, this was the time for the last surviving sister to walk alone, from old accustomed habit, round and round the desolate room, thinking sadly upon the "days that were no more." But this Christmas of 1836 was not without its hopes and daring aspirations.

They had tried their hands at story-writing, in their miniature magazine, long ago; they all of them "made out" perpetually.
They had likewise attempted to write poetry; and had a modest confidence that they had achieved a tolerable success.

But they knew that they might deceive themselves, and that sisters' judgments of each other's productions were likely to be too partial to be depended upon.

So Charlotte, as the eldest, resolved to write to Southey.