2282. RB to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 12, 194–195.
[London]
Tuesday. [Postmark: 31 March 1846]
Dear, dear Ba, what shall I say or not say? On a kind of principle, I have tried before this to subdue the expression of gratitude for the material, worldly good you do me [1] —for my poor store of words would all pay themselves away here, at the beginning, and so leave the higher, peculiar, Ba’s own gifts even without a cry of acknowledgement, not to say of thanks– But somehow you, you my dearest, my Ba, look out of all imaginable nooks and crevices in the materiality– I see you thro’ your goodness,—I cannot distinguish between your acts now,—the greater, indeed, and the lesser! Which is the “lesser”? With you, all their heap of work seems no more than—(—.) (I cannot even think of what may serve for some lesser act of kindness! That is just what I wanted to say—“the effect defective comes by cause” [2] here—there is no “lesser” blessing in your power, as I said!)
Now, darling,—it is late in the afternoon, as posts go– I have been out all the morning in Town, and while I was happy with one letter (found waiting my return)—the parcel comes– So I will just say this much, (this little, this least)—this word now—and by tonight all shall be corrected, I hope, and got rid of fairly—and tomorrow, I will have you to myself, my best one, and will write till you cry out against me[.] I go now, God bless you & reward you—prays your very own
RB
Address: Miss Barrett, / 50. Wimpole St
Postmark: 8NT8 MR31 1846 B.
Docket, in EBB’s hand: 146.
Publication: RB-EBB, p. 576.
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. In this case, her recent notes on A Soul’s Tragedy and the printer’s proof of Luria; see vol. 11, pp. 399–400.
2. Hamlet, II, 2, 103.
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