Correspondence

388.  EBB to Hugh Stuart Boyd

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 266–268.

Hope End.

Friday morning. [8 October 1830] [1]

My dearest friend,

I cannot let today pass without saying something of what I shall think of on every day for so long—of the last happy fortnight—or nearly three weeks. Did I not once tell you of the old charge against me, about my never enjoying the present moment; and must I not say that you have taught me that the present moment may be enjoyed? Surely I must; and in my measurement of happiness, I do not make false quantities as I do, you know, in Greek. Thank you for this lesson in philosophy, tho’ it has soon ceased to be practised: for now that the teacher is at a distance, now that the pleasure of being with you, like the pain of going away, is over,—I find myself enjoying the past & dreaming of the future, in my own usual style. You will guess (will you not?) how I am enjoying the past,—& how I am dreaming of the future—and you will believe—I am sure you will,—in all that I say, & in more than I say. I forgot to tell you,—tho’ I began to think it before I left your house,—that upon consideration it seemed to me scarcely politic & advisable to apply to Papa again as soon as your kindness proposed. It is really far better to wait a little; and you will assuredly see him before long. I was received most graciously, & had done everything right both in staying & returning. “Well”, he said with goodhumoured smile,—“so you have condescended to come back at last.” And when I told him how happy I had been, the reply was—“I do not doubt that. I am only afraid that you will find it impossible to tolerate us, after Mr Boyd.” I was determined to talk of what is natural (and can anything be more natural than certain feelings?) before saying a word of the supernatural. Papa seems resolved on considering the ghost a hoax,—& expects more from the vigils of Mr D’Orlier on the spot with a brace of pistols, than from any possible searching for bones. I find that the field has been for years called haunted; and that in the course of last week, two men, besides the present sufferer, had seen the appearance, & that they all agree in describing the face & dress in every minute particular. The bonnet had large bows; the face was of an ashy paleness, surrounded by long black frizzed hair; & the drapery white & confined by a white satin girdle reaching to the feet. Each of the two men who first saw this figure was much terrified,—& indeed from the effect of terror, one of them was confined to his bed for several days. It leapt, he said, upon his back,—& when he shook it off, and looked behind, it seemed to lie & spread upon the road, & cover it all over with whiteness, like a sheet of moonshine. On Wednesday night, no appearance took place & nothing has since been seen,—tho’ the unfortunate man who was last terrified, persists in saying—“I must meet her twice more”. You shall hear whatever I do: but Mr D’Orlier watches every night near the bridge,—and as long as he does this, Papa declares that neither you nor I will hear anything further.

I just escaped a levy of people who called here on Wednesday. Henrietta Bro & Sam dine today at the Cliffes, & Henrietta sleeps there<.> Mr Barker’s parcel contained two of his books for children, [2] & the Cl<ass>-book, [3] —accompanied by a short note which is so characteristic of him, that I have a great mind to send it to your “odoriferous hands” according to his own expression. At any rate your critical & poetical tastes must be gratified by an extract from an effusion contained in one of the little books which were sent to me by the editor.

 

The ice it was most hard indeed,

As hard as it could be;

It made my little head to bleed,

And almost killed me.

 

I own that I most fondly tried,

Which was a naughty thing,

A boy, that on his legs did slide,

Down on his back to fling.

 

But I, alas! was rightly paid,

Indeed, in my own coin;

For soon upon the ice I laid

All wounded & forlorn.

I always used to think that children might be allowed the privilege of at least reading good grammar, even if good sense should be considered above their capacities. “But I, alas!”, you see, was quite wrong all the time.

I found here a note from Lady Margaret, containing an invitation to Eastnor for next Friday,—but I will not go if I can help it.

Give my best love to Mrs Boyd & Annie—& let me be remembered to Miss Gibbons. I hope they will enjoy themselves tonight! May God bless you! I think of you very very often,—& remain

Ever yours affectionately & gratefully—

E B Barrett.

I hope the heaviness went off very soon,—& that it now exists as little physically as it does intellectually.

Address, on integral page: Hugh Stuart Boyd Esqr / Great Malvern.

Publication: EBB-HSB, pp. 106–108.

Manuscript: Wellesley College.

1. EBB left Boyd’s house on 7 October 1830, having read more than 2,200 lines of Greek during her stay (see SD724).

2. Not listed in any of the standard references. Barker’s entry in DNB includes the comment: “He is sometimes credited with the authorship of a few books for children, of some popularity in their day; but this statement can hardly be accepted by those who are familiar with his recognised volumes.”

3. In 1829 Barker re-edited John Pierpont’s Class-book, exercises in reading and recitation.

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