3122. EBB to Euphrasia Fanny Haworth
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 18, 228–229.
58 Welbeck street
saturday. [25 September 1852] [1]
I was confounded, dearest Fanny, when on returning the other day, I found the last vestiges of you. I had gone out for a few minutes, having absolutely confused one hour with another. You cant think how humbled I was, and ashamed– You may say, “very naturally”. I looked from your Geraldine [2] to your note, & back again, & required no Robert to tell me that my head was falling off my shoulders unaware– Can you ever forgive me? For my part, to forgive myself that I should have lost you so, when I had so much to say & hear, is harder.
Sarianna comes to us today, saturday, to remain with us while we remain in England, & to go with us to Paris afterwards. There we shall leave her with her father, & betake ourselves straight to Italy .. first to Florence, then to Rome & Naples. We shall be in Welbeck street yet ten days, I think, & any note will find us here– Afterwards, we may be heard of from my sister, 50, Wimpole street. But you shall send me a word here before I go.
Because I want to ask about your intentions on the subject of Geraldine .. the vision of the vision. It is very, very pretty, graceful, delicate, we both think, and I thank you for it a thousand times. It’s a [‘]‘vision of a lady,” [3] & who can wonder that my poet mistook? I thank you much for helping my meanings so–
But I want to know—do you intend me to have the sketch? And dont you intimate that the colours will fade? In which case, had I not better leave it with Miss Chorley [4] that you may secure the beauty of the thing? had I not better leave it with a copy of my poems which will await your acceptance there? The books shall be left for you when we leave England. [5]
And dont be depressed, you, who have such various faculty. Make the right distinction between what you drop & what you lose– Voluntary losses are the things to dread.
Love me a little (do)
as your affectionate
Ba–
Robert’s love.
Address: Miss Haworth / 45. Onslow Square / Brompton.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Fitzwilliam Museum.
1. This letter is postmarked 26 September 1852, a Sunday.
2. As indicated below, a sketch or drawing by Fanny Haworth illustrating a scene in “Lady Geraldine’s Courtship.”
3. “Lady Geraldine’s Courtship” (1844), line 387.
4. Mary Ann Chorley (1801–63), invalid sister of Henry Fothergill Chorley and John Rutter Chorley, lived with the latter at 76 Chester Square.
5. When RB wrote to Edward Chapman instructing him to send a copy of Poems (1850) care of Miss Chorley, the Brownings were in Lyons, enroute to Italy; see letter 3144.
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