1009. Mary Russell Mitford to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 6, 78–79.
[Three Mile Cross]
[15 September 1842] [1]
<***> I have been to-day, for an hour, to sweet Lucy Anderdon’s wedding-breakfast. My father insisted on my going. I could not go with them to church, or, rather, I could not get courage to leave him for so long. It was a beautiful scene—the bride exquisitely fair, and modest, and graceful—the bridegroom a joyous, animated young man, a very impersonation of happiness. Six bridesmaids, all so young and so pretty, and crowds of elegant men and lovely women tastefully dressed, a beautiful house and place, the very banquet a picture—bells, bands of music, village schools, children strewing flowers, and all that is pleasant to the eye and to the mind; but sweet, sweet Lucy the charm of all! May God bless her! Among our parting words—ay, when parting from the father and mother to whom she is all—she said to me, “The moment you hear how Miss Barrett is, write to me.” May heaven bless her! I like him; he seems thoroughly open-hearted, good, and kind—very different from her, and perhaps the better. The father and mother approve it thoroughly, and were happier under it than I could have thought. I could not help crying; I never can when I see joy. <***>
Text: L’Estrange (1), I, 274.
1. Dated by reference to Miss Anderdon’s wedding on 15 September (see letter 1008, note 10).
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