What are you doing, Charlotte?

Balancing Papa's account books. Someone has to keep track of the family finances.

And how is our money, Charlotte?

(CHARLOTTE has found something amongst the papers)

Sickly. This is strange.

What is it?

Letters. For us. They must have been mixed up with Papa's papers by mistake.

When did they arrive?

I don't know. They're posted all the way from Bradford. I wonder who they're from?

(ANNE rips hers open)

Oh ! Lord !

A valentine?

What on earth?

I can't believe it! All my life, I've pretended. Ellen Nussey got valentines by the bushel full. And now, oh, look, my hands are shaking...

What does it say?

I--can't, it's too...too...

I'll read it.

Let me! I want to see.

"Fair Anne, Sweet Fair Anne...."

Oh Lord, someone loves me!

Who! That's the question.

Yes, who. It's not signed.

Open yours. Maybe yours is signed, and the gentlemen are in some way aquatinted...

Mine says, "Fond Love, Go Away." Goodness.

Is it signed?

Luckily for the sender, no. Well. This is a fine prank Branwell must have played on us.

Branny? It's possible, but it's really not his style. Death notices, warrants for arrest, but not valentines. Besides. He couldn't afford to travel to Bradford just to make the post.

Who else is there?

Mr. Weightman. At least, he probably sent yours.

Who could have guessed?

Don't play coy. We all know how he feels about you. You can see it painted on his face--on both your faces!

What on earth are you talking about?!

I see the way he looks at you in church...

How do they look at each other?

If you'd bother to come, like a proper clergy's daughter, you'd see for yourself. He sits opposite Anne, sighinn softly and looking out of the corners of his eyes to win her attentions--and Anne is so quiet, her look so downcast--they are a picture...

Do you think it's terribly noticeable?

He's supposed to set an example. It's a wonder Papa doesn't drag him out by the ear.

Is it true then? What Charlotte says?

I've tried moving from pew to pew...

Come on. We must find out the culprit. Give that thing to me. (CHARLOTTE snatches the note away) Lord. Look at this handwriting! It's almost identical. William Weightman must have written all three.

Isn't it wonderful? He's pious and kind.

I think it's very improper.

They're just valentines!

They are symbols of Romantic love! Besides, to all three of us? He must be very fickle, very fickle indeed. Wait a moment. Emmy? What does youcs say?

It really isn't important.

Oh, sister. Do tell us what it says.

I 'll read it later.

Oh, come now. It can't be worse than mine.

Emmy, don't you want to know what it says?

"Emily, my Soul Divine."

That's beautiful.

It doesn't mean a thing.

How can you take such advances so lightly? I, for one, am very concerned about Mr. Weightman's peculiar manners. "Fond Love, Go Away?" What kind of valentine is that? Annie. Come and help me set the table.

(CHARLOTTE exits)

It seems the most profound remark was the one he made to you.

(ANNE exits. Music. Fade as EMILY returns to the moors)

(reading) "Emily, My Soul Divine..." (clutching the valentine to her chest) "Sleep not, dream not; this bright day Will not, cannot last...."

(During the next poem, CHARLOTTE returns with a candle and finds the writing desk that EMILY has left behind)

"I love thee boy, for all divine,
All full of God thy features shine.
Darling enthusiast, holy child,
Too good for this world's warring wild..."

(CHARLOTTE picks up the desk and considers it)

No. I will not allow myself to fall in love. I will not allow it!

"Riches I hold in light esteem,
And love I laugh to scorn;
And lust of fame was but a dream,
That vanished with the morn:

And if I pray, the only prayer
That moves my lips for me,
Is Leave the heart that now I bear,
And give me liberty!"

"Yes, as my swift days near their goal,
'Tis all that I implore;--
In life and death a chainless soul,
With courage to endure."

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