1020. EBB to Mary Russell Mitford
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 6, 97–98.
[London]
Oct. 11th 1842. [1]
Recall the wish that you had refused Mr Schloss if you can my beloved friend,—for it sounds most hardly of all to me. I will write the verses for you twenty times over willingly, gladly, rather than not please you at last—and if after all I do not please you it shall not be for want of trying twenty times. I just write to say this. Put the thing beyond your cares my dearest friend, & let me try again what I can do– [2] Yes, that your reputation shd suffer for faults of mine wd be an evil indeed: & there wd be no consolation to you in the fact of the punishment falling heavily on the sinner.
May God strengthen & bless you my beloved suffering friend. You have done all for him that the tenderest & most faithful could—& he knows it—and if you are called upon to part now it is only for a while, & the next meeting will be tearless. In the meantime this sweet calm, all that you describe so touchingly, must be full of a lovely hope & blessing to you. Would that I too could witness it!– Oh would that I were near you to be of some use, some comfort perhaps! If I were otherwise than I am, I wd not only wish it,—you shd have me by your side.
Mr Kenyon is expected at home on the 15th with his brother & his brother’s bride. [3] I am very much surprised.
Ever your own EBB–
If I can send anything, do permit me to give that pleasure to myself—I beseech you, do–
Publication: EBB-MRM, II, 42 (as 10 October 1842).
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. EBB originally wrote “10th” and then altered the date to “11th”
2. Miss Mitford was evidently not willing to submit EBB’s first attempts as her own work.
3. Edward Kenyon had married the daughter of the family with whom he had been living in Vienna for some years.
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