2415. EBB to John Kenyon
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 13, 51.
[London]
Sunday. [14 June 1846] [1]
When you were raining your goodnesses on me the other day, dearest Mr Kenyon, I, who though I was deaf & blind for the nonce, did perfectly understand that you were good & kind as ever, yet failed to discern between goodness & goodness .. & at this moment, doubt whether I ought to be grateful to you or to Mr Landor for the present of his books. [2] My impression was … to Mr Landor. Arabel says .. to you. Therefore do set me right, because it is a matter of moment to be able to associate you properly with the book .. I am always particular about my associations. For the rest, I am quite clear of one thing … viz .. that you invented railroads for me, in this year of grace 1846—& I shall remember, I who have not another ‘pied de terre’ in chronology. Still, do you know, I could not distinctly see & hear the great Thing, until I got home to the silence of my own room & had waited an hour or two. Then, I saw it—then, I heard it—but I felt your kindness at all hours, & feel it, dearest cousin–
being gratefully & affectionately yours
EBB.
I have written. [3]
Address: John Kenyon Esqre / 40 York Terrace.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. Dated by EBB’s reference to Kenyon in the preceding letter.
2. A copy of The Works of Walter Savage Landor (1846), which had just been published in two volumes. The books were from Landor, as she explains to RB in letter 2420.
3. EBB has added this postscript below the seal on the outside of the envelope.
___________________
