2827. EBB to Anne Braun

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 16, 41–42.

Casa Guidi.

Saturday evening. [5 January 1850] [1]

My dear Mrs Braun,

You spoil a very pleasant expectation by this card! Miss Bayley had prepared me for seeing you & enjoying you,—& now are you really going to vanish through Florence in such an invisible hard hearted way? is it possible? I would go to your hotel with my husband, but I have not been well, &, though well now, am forced to keep quiet for a time in order to escape certain risks,—I have not left the house these two months. Hard upon me it is, not to see you, not to make the acquaintance of Dr Braun, & not to introduce my baby to you—who (more happily unconscious than I) has just gone to sleep in his cradle. In a like way, have I missed Gerardine Macpherson,—the stars are shining wrong for me just now– Well—dear Miss Bayley will sympathize with these misfortunes, I am certain–

My husband hopes to have some better fortune, & I borrow his eyes to look at you with. Only for myself, let me say that I congratulate you on your marriage, & wish you whatever happiness you could wish for your own life. Will Dr Braun, (whom Mrs Jameson describes as so worthy of you in a letter I lately received) be so good as to admit of me as a possible friend? and will you take a remembrance on with you to Rome, of yours truly & affectionately

Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

Thank you for bringing the packet. [2] If Robert should miss you in making this visit, & not find the packet ready for him, perhaps you will leave it to our address & we will send for it tomorrow–

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: University of Texas.

1. Dated by EBB’s references to meeting Dr. Braun and to the Brauns passing through Florence, both of which occurrences are mentioned in letter 2828. 5 January 1850 was a Saturday.

2. From her sisters, containing stockings for Pen; see letter 2829.

___________________