250. Henrietta Moulton-Barrett to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 32–33.
Hope End
Saturday morning [24 February 1827] [1]
My beloved Ba,
How could you be so cruel to disappoint us so dreadfully yesterday. I had been flattering myself all day that we should have had some accounts of you & your dear Lady Margaret, & really when Sam made his appearance with one solitary letter for Mama from Mrs Fance, I could not help ejaculating “how very unkind” but I have forgiven you persuading myself we shall certainly hear from you today.
I have a great deal to tell you but very few minutes to tell it in, so I must indeed quicken the pace of my quill. About an hour after your departure my own dearest Ba I was sitting alone in the morning room reading Harry & Lucy [2] I was startled by the wheels of a carriage, turned round! who should it be but Lady Knowles, [3] of course I ran away, this was about half past four, what a time to pay a morning visit! Mama was on the lawn, superintending the dusting of the curtains, luckily she escaped before they saw her[.] Luncheon was ordered, I was sent for & there they sat never attempting to go till it was becoming quite dark at last Lady Knowles said well really your dinner will be quite spoilt, we must indeed go, in short they made so many broad hints to stay [for] dinner that Mama could not avoid asking them, & they did– Pray fancy Mama & me by ourselves obliged to entertain these four people, [4] for Bro & James Trant had not then returned, & indeed had sent to say they were going to dine at Malvern, but in the middle of dinner they came in, having heard that the Knowles were here just after they had dined, they very wisely set off immediately. We had music in the evening. I played a duett with Lady Knowles & we sung the southerly wind, [5] which went off very tolerably– They did not leave us till past twelve. But is it possible that I have written thus far without telling you what I certainly should not have been able to contain all yesterday had it not been for Mama. Look dearest Ba at the enclosed letters, written by a blind gentleman residing at Malvern upon whom you certainly have made a most indellible impression, we are very anxious for the interpretation of the Greek verses [6] & letter Bro cannot I mean will not tell us.
Lady Knowles invited us i.e. dearest Ba & myself to stay a few days with them next week, to attend a ball given at Worcester, the engagement Mama had made to the Monies was a very good excuse for us, an engagement which you will be astonished to hear we have changed for today instead, it will not we think be a source of deep regret to our beloved Ba, but Mrs Trant is coming on Monday, & Mama in consideration to the gig thought it better to go today as Mrs T. will most likely want it, & we have no other means of conveyance. Bro drives us there, & we return tomorrow immediately after church. Mama told James Trant that Mrs Money had asked him, but he will not accompany us. The school children I have desired to come on Monday morning instead of Tuesday–
Dearest Arabel is still just the same– Mama & I had a drive on the Ice yesterday it bears capitally. I do hope it may remain so till Monday happy [7] Monday. Daisy sleeps with me he woke me this morning at six to teach him “Cherry ripe” I thought of you. Tell Ann [8] her Pupil does her great credit I have had the honor of being his instructress these two days–
Beloved Ba I must indeed conclude as Mamas [sic] is going at half past one it is over one now & my things are not nearly ready– very very often do I think of you & pity you.
Mama’s best love God bless my own dear Ba–
No more from our dearest Papa–
Address, on integral page: Miss Barrett / Eastnor Castle.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.
1. Dating based on reference to letter and verses from a “blind gentleman,” evidently Hugh Stuart Boyd’s first to EBB, which EBB answered on 2 March 1827. In that year, 24 February was the Saturday prior to 2 March.
2. Harry and Lucy (1825) by Maria Edgeworth (1768–1849).
3. Lady Knowles, née Charlotte Johnstone, lived at Malvern and was a neighbour of Mrs. Trant.
4. Besides Lady Knowles herself, the other visitors were probably her husband, Admiral Sir Charles Henry Knowles (1754–1831), and their children Francis Charles (1802–92) and Charlotte Laura (1804–93).
5. “A Southerly Wind and a Cloudy Sky” was a popular hunting song; it was published in a collection entitled The Fox Chase [1785?].
6. The verses are no longer with the letters, and so cannot be reproduced here.
7. Underscored three times.
8. A maid at Hope End.
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