3081. EBB to Eliza Anne Ogilvy
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 18, 186–187.
58 Welbeck street. Cavendish square.
Thursday. [5 August 1852] [1]
I am getting so anxious about you, my dear friend, that I do wish you would send me a word. I have heard of you through Mrs Crosland,—& there is the last!—and by this time there must surely be good news to tell. [2] Wont Mr Ogilvy write to me, if you cant? Remember that you have made no sort of sign in reply to my last letter—not a sign!
Since we have been in London (& we have been here a month), we have been overlaid, overpowered, by engagements & various sorts of unpleasant business. England is not lucky to us—we were not intended for patriots. Well—to make up for it, people have been & are really very kind, & we shall leave them all with some grateful thoughts. Then, the heat, this summer, however heavy & strangling, has been favorable rather than otherwise to my chest, so that I have not suffered as I usually do in England. In spite of which, we turn our faces towards Italy .. as far as winter-dreams go .. it being all dream-work with us still, & very indistinct– I have had the comfort of seeing both my sisters. Henrietta stayed a fortnight within a few doors of us. Wiedeman’s frocks fit her Altham of seventeen months, much to my humiliation, .. but I catch up my glory in other ways, for my minute darling is universally admired for his ‘gentilezza’ [3] & grace. He talks incessantly, with a considerably improved flow of language, & having put aside all shyness, is seen to more advantage.
Ah—so vexed I have been this morning. Wilson is going to leave us—she has made up her mind, she says, not to go abroad again– It vexes me far less, of course, as a matter of inconvenience than as a disappointment of … I may say, the affections– I thought she cared more for me & the child, than to leave us so. She had applied before to have her wages raised to twenty guineas, which we had’nt in our power to do—& I suppose she thinks that she can improve her position in respect to money. Well– I hope so—& that she may lose nothing otherwise.
We were asked to spend tomorrow with the Tennysons at Twickenham, but must choose another day on account of a provoking engagement. Mrs Tennyson is very near her confinement. Also, Mon[c]kton Milnes has a baby a day old, [4] which he swears is like a little red Indian & incompetent to produce a throb of love in him. Mrs Milnes gave birth to it under the influence of chloroform, talking German fluently all the time (a language she is quite ignorant of) & unconscious of a pang– I am going to see the baby. I give Mr Milnes a week to develop his paternal instincts, & then, according to my prediction, he is to be as foolish as the rest of us.
Do write a word. I send you a note upon babies, feeling instinctively that babyology will be more welcome to you just now than most other of the ologies. My love to Mrs Ogilvy—& to Mr Ogilvy—& kisses to the darlings. Peninni has learnt to say, “Peninni vuole” .. “Peninni non può aspettare” [5] —& various despotic phrases, which are called into constant use—but, after all, it is considered miraculous in my family, that so good a child should result from my spoiling. God bless you. I do long to hear of you. Robert’s love.
Your ever affectionate
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Dont forget to say how you found dear Mrs Ogilvy looking,—& how you bear Perth.
Address: Mrs David Ogilvy / Perth / N.B.
Publication: EBB-EAHO, pp. 80–82.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
1. This letter is postmarked 6 August 1852, a Friday.
2. Mrs. Ogilvy was expecting the birth of her fifth child, which event occurred four days later; see letter 3087.
3. “Gentleness.”
4. Amicia Henrietta Milnes (1852–1902).
5. “Peninni wants” .. “Peninni can’t wait.”
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