2963. EBB to Sarianna Browning
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 17, 129–130.
[Paris]
[ca. 7 October 1851] [1]
My dearest Sarianna I am very sorry about the clipping short of our months. That’s vexing—but we must try to put as much love & happiness as possible into the three shabby weeks, [2] & fill them out a little. Meantime we shall let your father laugh at Wiedeman’s sea-experience, for the suffering was of the briefest, I assure you, and the advance in conscious dignity after having been sick “like Papa & Mama & Lilla,” was highly satisfactory to the patient. It was in the most turbulent spirits that he arrived at Dieppe, crying out for “latte e tè,” [3] & dancing & singing till eleven oclock when we got him to bed with difficulty.
We passed the custom-house very well– The only perilous moment was the passing of Wilson’s shawl, your shawl. She would keep it on her arm in spite of Gods, men, & you & me. And an examining official woman caught it up, held it to the light & said, “This is English, this is quite new.” I interposed .. “it has been worn,”—and after a minute’s consideration, during which poor Wilson’s heart stood still, I dare say, the verdict was “Il peut passer! Bien, Mesdames.” [4] My shawl (your’s, still, dear Sarianna) I was wrapped up in—& very useful it was to me through that stormy day at sea– And the household linen escaped without an observation. Indeed they scarcely examined the boxes—they were quick & lenient in every respect, & even let pass five & twenty cigars which Carlyle had had the audacity to lay at the top of his box .. the examiner just giving a sly glance at Robert, to show that he was aware of the infraction & goodnaturedly pardoned it. We might have brought over our plate, except for the uneasiness the “case of conscience” would have made for Robert.
He will have told you of his miseries in house-hunting & how he was baffled at the Madeleine. But I think you will like the apartment we have taken in the Champs Elysèes, flooded with sunshine; and, after all, the situation will be better for Baby. It is Hyde Park against Belgrave Square, & we have chosen the Park—that’s all– We may be contented with such a pis aller. [5] It will be an immense improvement on Mrs Thompson’s rooms, which she wd not let, she said, in the season, for less than four guineas a week. Then, prices in general seem reasonable here—for instance, the best meat, at 6d a pound, the French pd being larger than the English—& rumpsteaks at 7d Altogether I hope we may be able to live, especially as the climate is certainly much in advance of yours. Such bright, lovely weather we have had, & my cough has nearly disappeared. God bless both of you. I feel as if I had more a right to love you now.
Your affectionate sister
Ba.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Fitzwilliam Museum.
1. Approximately dated by EBB’s reference to taking the apartment in the Champs Élysées.
2. Sarianna and RB, Sr. visited Paris from about 22 October to 13 November 1851.
3. “Milk and tea.”
4. “It may pass! Right, ladies.”
5. “Last resort.”
___________________
