3134. EBB to Henrietta Cook
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 18, 242–243.
15 Bentinck street
Sunday night. [Postmark: 10 October 1852]
My ever dearest Henrietta, half angry I am at your writing to me with your own hand. You write a great deal too soon,—you are up a great deal too soon. I dont understand how a wise doctor, [1] like yours, can permit it. I do beseech you, take care of yourself & dont rush into fresh dangers by ignoring the actual ones. The longer you lie still, the less work of any kind (except eating) you do, the sooner & more completely you will recover your health & energy. There’s a word of parting exortation!–
Ah dearest dear Henrietta, but I must love you from my heart & kiss your dear hand out of the depth of it, for your affectionateness in writing to me. This, after the scolding is done. It was very, very dear of you to write, and I thank & love you.
Then I see the new small darling in your description. From the comparative anatomy of the hair, I made out a good deal about her, so pretty & bright & soft it is. But your description sets her before my sight. Kiss the mouth which is like Altham’s, & the eyes which, being brown, must be like yours. Since she is yours, I wont covet her—& you must accept that abnegation as a sure proof of love. Next year I hope I shall have a look at her—oh, I hope so. God bless you all & make & keep you very very happy meantime.
Papa has written to ask Bummy to go to Wimpole street after the funeral shall leave her at liberty. [2] She will be in sad spirits, & I wish I could hope for a more cheerful companion for our darling Arabel. Poor uncle John is in a desolate position. He will feel the loss of power, I dare say, & possession, as well as the rest. [3]
For my part it would be affectation on my part to pretend to suffer a grief where I never professed or felt an affection. What I chiefly personally knew of poor aunt Clarke was that she particularly disliked me. But there were excellent acts & facts in her life, .. some nobleness, some generosity, & a strong sense of rectitude. I trust that she is rejoicing in the change which has made others sad.
Dearest Henrietta, we go on tuesday morning at six. I am overcome with business to do, to say nothing of the horrible weather– Now I must say God bless you, dearest! We shall stay in Paris a week or two till we have settled Sarianna & her father, then we go on to Florence, &, if Casa Guidi should be found “let,” shall proceed at once to Rome. If not, we stay in Florence till perhaps the early part of December. That’s the plan, so far—but we have’nt arranged yet, how to go to Florence—whether by Chambery & Turin, or Marseilles & the Riviera– I shall enjoy it very much I hope & believe .. when once I am gone. But my heart aches to leave our poor beloved Arabel as she must be left. Shall you be in London next winter, Henrietta, or spring,—with those two children? We go by Boulogne.
Peninni sends you a letter. He wrote every word of it himself, without the push or pull of a finger-help—only of course I showed him how to spell the words. I think it is very well done for three years & a half, particularly as he never has such a thing as a lesson. I cant make out how he learns things. Robert’s best love with mine to dear Surtees & your dear self, & our kisses to the Two.
Your own attached Ba.
You made me tremble, you & Surtees, with the story of the darling’s danger– What an escape! [4] What joy & thankfulness!–
Address: Mrs Surtees Cook. / Wilton / Taunton / Somersetshire.
Publication: Huxley, pp. 170–171 (in part, as 11 October 1852).
Manuscript: British Library.
1. Possibly Henry Alford (1806–98), of Taunton, who delivered the Cooks’ third child, Edward Altham Cook, on 13 April 1856.
2. Bummy’s sister-in-law and EBB’s aunt, Mary Elizabeth Graham-Clarke (née Parkinson, 1787–1852), died on 7 October 1852 at Kinnersley Castle in Herefordshire.
3. According to the terms of the will of his wife’s father, Leonard Parkinson (1744–1817), John Altham Graham-Clarke (1782–1862) did not upon his wife’s death inherit her property, which included Kinnersley Castle and Frocester Manor, nor her annuities. These were meant for the eldest son John Altham Graham-Clarke, Jr. Evidently, EBB knew that her uncle would have to leave Kinnersley, where he had been residing. The new resident was to be the son of Mrs. Graham-Clarke’s late brother Richard, John Parkinson, after whose death in 1859, Kinnersley was sold by John Altham Graham-Clarke, Jr.
4. On the day of his daughter’s birth, Surtees recorded that she “was nearly strangled … by reason of … coming into the world heels foremost” (Surtees, 28 September 1852).
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