146. EBB to Arabella Graham-Clarke (aunt)

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 143.

[Gloucester]

[ca. 1822] [1]

My dearest Bum must have a few little lines from me today to assure her that her many kind letters have made my heart a debtor to her which will not require much dunning– I have often entertained hopes that you and dear Grandmama might be inclined to enliven my confinement but alas! how often have I been disappointed! I fear many months must yet pass ere I change my position and tho’ I endeavour to be as patient as I can yet dearest Bum the prospect is melancholy. Oh! how I do wish you were here but it would be too much I fear to ask!

I expect my dearest Sam every day as he has promised to spend a few weeks with us to breakfast in my room “as is his custom”–

Dear, dear Bum forgive this stupid scrawl for the Graces of Composition with all other Graces desert me just now–

Ever your own attached

Ba–

Love to dearest Grandmama–

Pray write by return of post–

Address, on integral page: Miss Graham Clarke. / <…>

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Pierpont Morgan Library.

1. Apparently written early in 1822 while EBB was recuperating at Gloucester.

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