2777. RB to Mary Russell Mitford

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 15, 240.

[Florence]

March 9. ’49.

Dear Miss Mitford,

Ba desires me to tell you that she gave birth, at 2¼ this morning, to a fine, strong boy, like Harry Gill with the voice of three, [1] —a fact we learned when he was about half born– Ba bore the 21 hours’,—a long 21 hours’ pain, without one cry or tear, as I know, who held her hand whenever they would let me. Now all is over; the babe seems happy in his cradle, and Ba is, I suppose, the very thing you call happy .. this is God’s reward for her entire perfectness to me and everybody but herself– You know something,—perhaps a great deal of her—but I know, if not all, quite as much as my knowledge can hold– So, be joyful with her, and so kind, to me as to allow me to consider myself, dear Miss Mitford,

Yours very faithfully ever,

Robert Browning

Here is Flush, “How is Miss Barrett, Flush?” (a screwing of the eyes together answers)– “Did not she give you her hand to kiss just now?” (wag, wag goes the tail)– “And her babe,—you that like all babes, won’t you love him?” (Both ears drop) “And what shall I say for you to Miss Mitford?” —Here Flush, having licked his lips and made a sham swallow down his throat, says “Don’t ask such folly—send my love and have done,—I could speak if I liked, but you see I am swallowing something and otherwise engaged.” So, good bye to Flush, who goes to the fireside, and to his friend who must go to the bedside.

Address, on cover sheet: Miss Mitford, / Three Mile Cross, / near Reading.

Publication: LRB, pp. 22–23.

Manuscript: British Library.

1. Cf. William Wordsworth, “Goody Blake and Harry Gill: A True Story” (1798), line 20.

___________________