2798. EBB to Henrietta Moulton-Barrett
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 15, 301–302.
[Florence]
| Private | [?25] [June 1849] [1] |
My own dearest Henrietta, I must send you an aside today. I am afraid of doing harm by some accident if I speak with my face towards the audience, and I feel too much on one subject to keep the feeling in wholly. Altogether I shrink from the idea of Surtees’s waiting a year for the chance you mention: it seems to me playing a vain game, .. one’s head against a common marble. If he waits & gains nothing, why he loses much .. everything perhaps .. to wait a year on such terms, seems to me not to be thought of. For the rest, I do not dare to advise you—I should sooner dare to act, if I were in your position, than to advise in mine. It appears to me certain that a very little more would give you a sufficient income—& I think less of that practically than of its effect in Papa’s eyes:– What is desirable being that the marriage shd appear to him not out of the question on the ground of money–
For Surtees I have a sincere esteem, & a full trust in his attachment for you—and I do feel, Henrietta, that it wd be ungrateful of you to be out of spirits & hope, with such a loyal heart & hand to hold by as I believe his to be– There shd be exertion– I would not wait .. I wd do something;— .. advertise in the papers, enquire actively on all sides– The Taunton situation may be attained after all .. but let it come if it will come .. do not count on it .. be prepared to do without it. Give my love to Surtees– Robert & I think & talk of you much– Do not lose your cheerfulness, Henrietta– Would it not be worse if the doubt were of his attachment to you? Think of that! I would thank God for myself & my own joy if I had it in my power to help you by any means, my dearest Henrietta– But these thoughts & wishes, weak as they are, you will not despise. May God bless you. I like & love Surtees for his faithful affection—it is a better gift, be sure, than a “landed property.” I honour him for it.
Robert waits to take this letter, & I hate to send a blank .. so .. yet must– Thank you, thank you, for all you tell me—write every detail– I am your own Ba.
Yours & Arabel’s.
Robert’s best love & thanks for his note from Arabel– It shall soon be answered. He loves you both, he says, dearly, & holds you for his sisters in the tenderest meaning. Do write.
Publication: TTUL, pp. 73–75.
Manuscript: British Library.
1. Dating provided by EBB’s reference in the preceding letter to “a note to Henrietta.”
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