2938. EBB to Henrietta Cook

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 17, 96–98.

26 Devonshire Street–

Thursday– [21 August 1851] [1]

My ever dearest Henrietta, if you knew how I have thought of you & loved you, & thanked you & dear Surtees in my heart for the proof of love you gave me in coming to London! I would have written, not now for the first time, to say this, but Arabel will have told you of my dreadful state of slavery, with Wiedeman hanging to the skirts of my garment whatever way I turned. These words are blotted in the utmost haste—& he climbs up on the table to put an early end to them. A very good child he is, but most exacting. Nobody can beguile him into going out to walk without me, and I have had to give up every sort of religious & social duty, to my great discredit with the public generally. He sleeps with me, eats with me .. & only I am permitted to wash & dress him. Really it is too much sometimes, & I have learnt the use of Wilson in any case.

And your darling is well– So glad I am! but I could not fancy he was going to be ill. A wonderful child he certainly is—everybody wonders at him & I as much as any one. Kiss him for me “three times three” [2] as Tennyson says—and indeed I myself know as far as that in the multiplication table.

There is talk in Wimpole Street of their leaving town,—Papa acceded to Henry’s proposition—& though dearest Arabel declares she wont go till we go, I should be very loth to hinder her from having a change which wd be full of advantage to her. At the same time, I do think that they should go to the seaside, & no where else– Dr Hamilton [3] recommended it to her—and what can be the use of planting her down in the dulness of a country house when there’s no time to gather together in common country pleasures? If they would go to Dieppe, how I should like that. But they wont .. cant .. I see.

You heard of George’s letter to me—of the pretext he made about Robert’s “declining their acquaintance” or words to that effect .. observing that R. had “never answered Henry’s letter.” Never answered Henry’s letter!– Why he answered it instantly. “Under those circumstances George could not come to see me.”!!!

Well—Robert sate down (without a word of solicitation of mine let me say) & wrote what Arabel called “a most generous letter” to George—for it was shown to her. But this letter, sent to the Oxford circuit, was returned to us, the barrister at law being a wanderer among the Welsh mountains. So we cant reach him– And if we could, it would be the same thing. He has made up his mind, & excuses will not be wanting.

Before I leave London, I shall certainly write to Papa that he may know of my being here: Yet it is all vain—all vain.

Dearest dear Henrietta, when I go, I shall live a long time on thoughts of having seen your dear beaming face––A happy face, thank God. It was great blessing to look on you & yours, & the perfume of you will last to me for hours & days & weeks & months– Nay, it need not last so long this time—for I shall see you again it seems to me, soon– I have a sort of presentiment, do you know, of having you in Paris this winter– If you cant come it will be for the most excellent of reasons, & one to which even I will accede delightedly. <…> [4] I shall find you a cheap apartment in Paris .. & dare you to resist me. We shall see. It’s an alternative anyhow. <As for Surtees>, [5] I have some fears, I confess .. the Peel opposition strikes me as a threatening circumstance. [6] Hope on then, but moderately, lest the disappointment should be too great.

With your letter I had one from Bummy– Not unaffectionate, but very .. stupid .. to use the just one applicable word. She exhorts me to obtain Papa’s forgiveness, & not to refuse making any concessions. Concessions, indeed! when I have written such letters, the humblest of letters—letters written on the knees of my heart. Either she misapprehends curiously, or mistakes intentionally, & I hope it may be only the former.

We were at New Cross yesterday, Robert & baby & I; and Arabel went with us, which delighted us all. We dined & had coffee there, & walked in the fields, and Wiedeman behaved like an angel just alighted, & charmed his relations. He has taken a passion for his “nonno” [7] as he calls him—and I thought vainly of the other grandpapa who will never, perhaps, hold him in his arms—kiss him. Oh no—you could know nothing of Wiedeman, as you saw him in a lightning-flash—but you will when you come to Paris & we can take long breaths & talk.

Do write to me, my dearest dearest Henrietta, you who can, to me who cant—for this is no letter—nothing but a scratch.

Give my love to Surtees & thank him earnestly for his kindness in agreeing to the London movement. I regard him as my brother, tell him—and I well may, for he has been kinder to me than mine have been.

Tonight .. or rather at six, this evening .. we go to Trippy’s to have tea early, on account of Wiedeman who sticks to me like a burr—rose as he is. “White rose,” you will suggest. But really he has more colour now than when you saw him. Also, my cough has retreated with the retreating east wind, and I am better altogether.

Mrs Cook had the extreme kindness of coming to pay us a visit the other day, which we returned two or three days after but did not find her at home. Do you know when she came here, both Robert & I were vexed. Robert was talking the whole time to Mr Horne (who had arrived the moment before) and had not the least notion that the Mrs Cook whom I introduced to him, in a very faint voice I confess, was Surtees’s mother. The name had not struck him, & when he heard how it was, I was well scolded for letting him talk on to Mr Horne, without explaining the relationship of my visitor. You know I never have the least bit of presence of mind in perils by land or water– So vexed I was about it– Explain to Mrs Cook. I am sure she must have thought us very insensible to the kindness of her visit. God bless you, dearest Henrietta. Do write—and love me always

as your most attached

Address, in Arabella Moulton-Barrett’s hand: Mrs Surtees Cook / Wilton / Taunton / Somerset.

Publication: Huxley, pp. 138–139 (in part).

Manuscript: British Library.

1. Date provided by Taunton receiving stamp of 22 August 1851, a Friday.

2. In Memoriam (1850), Epilogue, 104.

3. Possibly the Edward Hamilton who is listed as a physician at 22 Grafton Street in The Post Office London Directory for 1851.

4. About half a line obliterated after receipt.

5. Passage in angle brackets is reconstructed, having been obliterated after receipt.

6. Apparently in relation to the post of Keeper of Wilton Gaol, for which Surtees Cook was applying. However, we are unable to explain the “Peel” reference.

7. “Grandfather.”

___________________