1908. EBB to RB

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 10, 206.

[London]

Sunday—in the last hour of it– [11 May 1845] [1]

May I ask how the head is? just under the bay? Mr Kenyon was here today & told me such bad news that I cannot sleep tonight (although I did think once of doing it) without asking such a question as this, dear Mr Browning.

Let me hear how you are—will you? and let me hear (if I can) that it was prudence or some unchristian virtue of the sort, & not a dreary necessity, which made you put aside the engagement for tuesday—for monday. I had been thinking so of seeing you on tuesday .. with my sister’s eyes—for the first sight.

And now if you have done killing the mules & the dogs, let me have a straight quick arrow for myself, if you please. Just a word, to say how you are. I ask for no more than a word, lest the writing should be hurtful to you.

May God bless you always.

Your friend

EBB–

Address: Robert Browning Esqre / New Cross / Hatcham / Surrey.

Postmark: 10FN10 MY12 1845 A.

Docket, in RB’s hand: 11.

Publication: RB-EBB, pp. 60–61.

Manuscript: Wellesley College.

1. Date provided by postmark.

___________________