2603. EBB to Mary Russell Mitford
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 13, 365–366.
[London]
Monday morning [14 September 1846] [1]
My dearest friend, With many wishes rushing on to meet you, I could not write as you desired directly, to fix about wednesday. A sudden command to be ready to leave this house for six weeks or two months, while it is being cleaned & painted, rendered it quite uncertain whether we should be here today even—or tuesday or wednesday therefore, of course. We now pause, simply because of a difficulty as to lodging-houses,—a difficulty which seems to bend & break,—Tunbridge Wells offering what are considered suitable resources.
Under these circumstances .. & under others, influenced by them, .. of which I will speak to you, dearest Miss Mitford, in a short time, .. I write with pain to ask you to defer this visit– It seems best– My heart is full when I think of seeing you, after I have made room for you (if I could contrive it) on the sunniest half of one of these uncertain days. I have a great deal to tell you, to entreat your sympathy for—your indulgence even, perhaps.
In the meanwhile do, do write & let me hear what you mean when you seem to refer to something painful. May I not hear? As you shall, at length, presently. Do try to love me always, & let me be in every case & place, as in this haste,
your affectionate & grateful
EBB
Publication: EBB-MRM, III, 186–187.
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. Dated by EBB’s reference to her family vacating 50 Wimpole Street while it was to be cleaned. Tunbridge Wells was considered (see letters 2593 and 2604), but they went to Little Bookham in Surrey.
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