2974. EBB to Henrietta Cook
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 17, 161–163.
[Paris]
Novr 2. [1851] [1]
My beloved Henrietta I shall slip this little sheet into Arabel’s letter just to speak about Paris & to answer some of your questions. Of course you are wise to run no risk of anxieties in respect to money-matters—and it seems to me most judicious therefore to put off the experiment of coming here. Also, the apartment I spoke to you of is taken by the month, & we were unfortunate enough to miss it by half an hour’s overlateness, for Robert’s father & sister. Perhaps it may be vacant in another three months—or if not, we can certainly take rooms for you in the neighbourhood quite as cheaply. Rely on us for things of this kind. I think I rather under than overstated the degree of cheapness here. You & Surtees, who are much better managers than we are, may live very cheaply—& the advantage is that you have luxuries & opportunities of society in a way perfectly impossible at any part of England—carriage-hire, for instance, & access to the best people in a conventional point of view. Everybody, almost, receives on one evening of the week from eight till twelve, and a cup of infinitesimally weak tea is the extent of the hospitality. Lady Elgin was prodigal & gave us bread & butter—but that was an exception. You wear white gloves, & your hair is neatly dressed—gowns up to the throat. There’s no fuss, & it all seems pleasant enough; and for half a crown, you can go in a close carriage to & fro to the extreme end of Paris, including a generous gratuity to the coachman. Fuel we find to be by no means as dear as it is at Florence– Half a franc (five pence) a day has covered the expense of each fire, as far as we can calculate roughly. We have bought a turkey for today’s consumption, which seems very good, for three shillings & a penny halfpenny. Butter has risen, & we give thirteen pence a pound for it—but it is admirable butter—nothing better—& it is to be cheaper next week. You have the best salt butter for 10d. Our second week’s expenses were less than the first, as I supposed they would [be]—indeed only thirty & a few shillings .. I forget exactly– Just now we of course spend more, as Robert’s father & sister are with us. You get very good tea for four francs & a half .. 3s .. 9d. Altogether I am persuaded, & so is Robert, that it is possible to live here very cheaply, if one knows how to set about it. I wish I were as sure of the climate, but for the last few days it has taken to be very cold & I am shut up for the present, feeling my throat by no means comfortable. The Hedleys are very kind indeed, coming here constantly—& this is the kinder,—that they have been much engaged by upholsterers: they are furnishing their apartment. It is a most comfortable apartment, on a second floor, & will be beautiful I dare say when the furnishing is complete .. which almost it must be, for we were invited there yesterday evening, only we dared not go on account of the cold. I can just walk to see them—it is the limit of my walking capacity. [2] I think that Ibbit is like aunt Jane, & Robert thinks not: you shall decide. Now let me see as to “fashions”– Yes, I have bought a bonnet—of drawn moroon [sic] satin, trimmed with velvet of the same shade, with purple flowers inside: it’s pretty, even Robert grants, (he is so particularly critical about my bonnets) and, as I was imprudent enough to buy it at a shop in a fashionable situation, I gave sixteen shillings for it. Then I have bought a winter gown cheaply enough—(I thought I would have another, one of these days)—a mixture of cotton & worsted .. a sort of plaid pattern of blue & black .. very pretty, though I gave only 8s & 4d for the whole. I have a black merino polka for the morning. Cloth is fashionable, they tell me, & I happily brought with me from London: a black cloth wadded polka for out of doors, which is just as it should be. The dressmaker who makes my gown (I pay 4s & 2d for it) tells me that it must be made with a point behind Illus. —that’s the novelty of the season—of course with a point before too. Also, they wear a good deal the basque dresses—that is,—you understand?–
As to Altham he must be perfect. I wanted to give Wiedeman a black hat when he was about Altham’s age, do you know, but when we tried it on, it seemed to crush the little face: the white felt did much better– And now we have bought him a white felt hat, white satin ribbons & feathers .. really the prettiest hat I ever saw, & he looks lovely in it—with a trimming of blue satin ribbon inside at each cheek! We gave only fourteen francs for all .. 11s .. 8d– Then, he wears trowsers now! .. that is, out of doors– Such ridiculous tiny trowsers up to his knees!—and long, white knit gaiters. It’s a beautiful costume, & he is much admired, I assure you– People stare at him, Wilson says, & turn around to stare again. Aunt Jane thinks he is like Sette—& there is something .. in the smile! You will admit when you see him that he is much improved, though your baby of Anak [3] will always make him appear fragile in comparison. Dont decide on weaning that child at any particular time, if he has not cut his eyeteeth, & if you are able to nurse him. Yes, Arabel nurses her baby, without any help of extraneous food. You are right however in accustoming him to a certain proportion, I think–
O wise Surtees, not to send satires to newspapers!! It wd have been dangerous!–
God bless Baby & both of you. Robert’s love with mine to Surtees & your dear self. Write to me & ever love me, dearest dearest Henrietta as
your most lovingly attached
Ba.
Publication: Huxley, pp. 145–147 (in part).
Manuscript: British Library.
1. This letter was enclosed with letter 2973.
2. The distance from 138 Avenue des Champs Élysées to 12 Rue d’Astorg, where the Hedleys were residing, is approximately one mile.
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