Correspondence

2035.  RB to EBB

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 11, 87–88.

[London]

[17 September 1845] [1]

Words!—it was written I should hate and never use them to any purpose. I will not say one word here—very well knowing neither word nor deed avails—from me.

My letter will have reassured you on the point you seem indecided about—whether I would speak &c[.]

I will come whenever you shall signify that I may .. whenever, acting in my best interests, you feel that it will not hurt you (weary you in any way) to see me—but I fear that on Saturday I must be otherwhere .. I enclose the letter from my old foe, [2] —which could not but melt me for all my savageness! and I can hardly go and return for my sister in time—will you tell me?

It is dark—but I want to save the post–

Ever yours–

RB–

Address: Miss Barrett, / 50 Wimpole St

Postmark: PD 10FN SP18 1845 B.

Docket, in EBB’s hand: 54 [altered from “53”].

Publication: RB-EBB, p, 204.

Manuscript: Wellesley College.

1. Date provided by postmark and RB’s reference to the “dark.”

2. i.e., John Forster, whose uncomplimentary review of Colombe’s Birthday had appeared in The Examiner of 22 June 1844 (for further details of Forster’s life, see pp. 329–331). Forster was in the cast of an amateur performance of Ben Jonson’s Every Man in His Humour (see letter 2041, note 5), and probably his letter contained tickets for the play, which was performed on 20 September 1845.

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