1056. Mary Russell Mitford to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 6, 161.
Three Mile Cross,
Nov. 20, 1842.
No, my precious! do not send anything else yet: perhaps, by-and-by, a few oysters, but not for this week, Mrs. Cockburn having sent a brace of grouse. Did I tell you that my father took last night with Mr. Cox [1] three glasses of claret, and afterwards two glasses more; enjoying them, not taking them, as he does the gravy, medicinally; but feeling the pleasure, the strange pleasure, that gentlemen do feel in the scent and taste of fine wine, especially when shared with a friend. Surely this is a sign of amendment! And he called me again “my treasure;” always his favourite word for his poor daughter. It rejoices my heart. Of course the previous omission was accidental. I feel sure now that he was not angry; but before, I had so feared it; and it had so grieved me—grieved me to the very bottom of my heart. So that, if it had pleased God to take him then, I do believe that I should have died of very grief. I thought that I must have said something, or done something, or left something unsaid or undone, that had displeased him. Now, so far as that goes, my heart is at ease, and it is the taking off of a great load.
Love to your dear people.
Ever your own,
M.R.M.
Text: L’Estrange (2), III, 161.
1. Assumed to be the husband of Mrs. Cox, mentioned in letter 886 and elsewhere in the correspondence. They were neighbours of the Mitfords.
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