646. EBB to Lady Dacre
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 4, 50–51.
50 Wimpole Street.
June 21st [1838] [1]
Dear Lady Dacre,
As I am encouraged to say so! I am at least obliged to explain to your Ladyship why it is that I do not express my thankfulness for the kindness of your note and the honor of your visits by immediately waiting upon you in Chesterfield Street. I need not, indeed, invoke Miss Mitford, to dispense my formalities. Dear Miss Mitford is a great teacher of the art of feeling kindness—but then it is, her own kindness—and pray believe that to feel your Ladyship’s, I have only need of Lady Dacre.
The “not at home” which, I am sorry to learn, was said of me last week, has not been true of me since last September, excepting once for ten minutes. Since September I have been in a very weak state of health, & was during the whole of the past week so increasedly unwell as to be confined to my bed. And altho’ I am now better & down stairs again, yet there appears to my sanguinest hope, no prospect near enough to be spoken of, of my being able to pay any visit under the impulse of any desire–
Nor do I venture to say what your Ladyship must believe in my feeling—that I should very gladly see you here—because I am aware how doubly dull would be a visit to an invalid who is scarcely fit even for the sofa until late in the day, & whose voice is most audible in coughing. Indeed that same voice is not strong enough just now to “fight out” any question, unless it be the right side of the one suggested by the note before me—viz—whether Lady Dacre’s book proves her to be “more than a good hardworking drudge”! [2] I could “fight out” such a “right” even now, but without much glory! And where could I find an antagonist except in Lady Dacre and the Windmills?
With every sentiment of respect & still some hope of being honored hereafter with your Ladyship’s acquaintance I remain your very obliged
E B Barrett.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. Dated by the reference to EBB’s health.
2. Lady Dacre’s most recent work, Translations from the Italian (1836) had been sent to EBB with letter 567.
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