Editing Anne Brontë (section)

==William Weightman==
Anne returned to Haworth and met William Weightman, her father's new curate who had started work in the parish in August 1839.<ref name="Alexander & Smith, 531">Alexander & Smith, '' The Oxford Companion to the Brontës'', p. 531</ref> Weightman was 25 and had obtained a two-year licentiate in theology from the [[University of Durham]]. He was welcome at the parsonage. Anne's acquaintance with him parallels her writing a number of poems, which may suggest she fell in love with him<ref name="Barker 341">Barker, ''The Brontës'', p. 341</ref><ref name="Barker 407">Barker, ''The Brontës'', p. 407</ref>{{clarify|date=December 2020}} although there is disagreement over this possibility.<ref name="Barker 344">Barker, ''The Brontës'', p. 344</ref> Little evidence exists beyond a small anecdote of Charlotte's to Ellen Nussey in January 1842.{{clarify|date=December 2020}}

In ''Agnes Grey'', Agnes' interest in the curate refreshes her interest in poetry. Outside fiction, William Weightman aroused much curiosity. It seems that he was good-looking and engaging, and that his easy humour and kindness towards the sisters made an impression. It is such a character that she portrays in Edward Weston, and that her heroine Agnes Grey finds deeply appealing.<ref name="Gérin 138">Gérin, ''Anne Brontë'', p. 138</ref>{{clarify|reason=Weston not good looking cf. Chap 11 AG|date=December 2020}}

Weightman died of cholera in the same year.<ref name="Barker 403">Barker, ''The Brontës'', p. 403</ref> Anne expressed her grief for his death in her poem ''I will not mourn thee, lovely one'', in which she called him "our darling".<ref name="Alexander & Smith, 531"/>