291. EBB to Hugh Stuart Boyd
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 119–120.
Hope End.
Wednesday. [19 March 1828] [1]
My dear Sir,
In Homer’s own style, I granted one half of your request, & gave the other half to the winds! [2] That is to say, I read your postcript [sic] first, & read the rest of your letter immediately. When you desired me not to do so, I wonder what you fancied me made of!!
I am very grateful to you for your kind interest & enquiries respecting myself & those dear to me. My Mother is tolerably well. She was a good deal alarmed at our long absence—but after her first agitation on seeing us was over, I made her smile by my account of my interview with you on the road. It was not like the rest of our intercourse––out of the common way! I have the happiness of being able to say that my sister is much better. She was more hurt than I at first thought she was, tho’ not at all seriously so,—& she is likely to be quite unstiffened in a day or two. As for me, now that my nerves have recovered a little, I am miraculously well. Papa accuses me of having contrived the whole upset for the sake of dramatic effect, & of taking care to fall lightly myself. I am afraid Mr Trant’s accusation was too just—that the immediate cause of the accident was my want of presence of mind in siezing the reins—but really I had nothing to do with the running away. My brother is acquitted on all sides. I shall however never get permission to visit you, till I can be chaperoned by a dragchain & a safer horse. You may depend on my coming as soon as possible. I hope that we may have a great deal of personal intercourse this summer, & that the Agamemnon may be a party concerned. How very kind you are to interest yourself so perseveringly in my improvement!
I have a great deal to say about Homer & will write in a day or two if I should not be able to see you quite so soon. If you would continue your penance of Monday evening, I think we should agree at the end of a week!
I was not sure that the lady whom I had the pleasure of meeting with you, was Mrs Boyd, [3] till I had sent away my note from Spring Cottage. May I offer my best compts to her, while I beg you to believe me
Most sincerely yours
E B Barrett.
Thank you for your medical advice postscriptum. I will try the remedy you are kind enough to mention for my headaches, the notoriety of which surprises me. But you seem informed on all points.
My eyes are not very strong,—but they dont inconvenience me to any unpleasant extent—they only make me like to read in the dark. I am sometimes stared at, on account of my drawn curtains, & dusky room—& distant candle, at night.
I forgot to say that I received your letter, which was waiting for me at home. It does not require an answer. When I read your first letter, upon which it is a commentary, I said that I should have felt, myself, very much as you did. You had a right to expect from me something better, than my passing you might seem to imply! But you have found now, that my intentions & feelings towards you were not in fault, however appearances might belie them.
Publication: EBB-HSB, pp. 28–29.
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. This letter was written very soon after the carriage accident which occurred on Monday 17 March 1828.
2. Iliad XVI, 250.
3. Ann, daughter of Wilson Lowry, the engraver, had married Boyd on 16 September 1805.
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