3237. EBB to Emelyn Story
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 19, 199–200.
Casa Tolomei–
Wednesday morning– [27 July 1853] [1]
My dear Mrs Story, I was very forgetful yesterday (only remembering that I wanted to see Edith & Joseph) when I asked you to send the children this evening– Unfortunately there was a previous engagement on our parts– [2] May they come on friday instead? Tomorrow we go to you ourselves–
I must expose myself to your contempt by telling you that after all the tea did not come from Florence– See how right Robert is about my ignorance! Wilson tells me that the tea provided at the Baths of Lucca is better than any we have found in other parts of Italy, & even in France– It is bought at a little Italian shop close by our house, where they profess to sell English goods, & to which Wilson will direct your servant at any time.
I dreamt of the spirits last night– Is it all a dream from first to last?
Ask Mr Story if this is not curious– That I who pass among my sceptical contemporaries, as being singularly credulous, am never liable to mistake or doubt about the suggestions of my own mind?—never, in long tracts of mental agitation & bodily weakness, imagined that I saw or heard ghostly vision or sign?—never could, in the act of writing or any other act, mistake a state of consciousness for one of unconsciousness? I have been trying this morning with a pencil. Not a letter came. Not the semblance of a letter. Strokes from nervous movements of the hand .. yes .. but nothing articulate or intelligent–
Most truly yours always
Elizabeth Barrett Browning–
I return, with thanks, the little polka–
Publication: Isabel C. Clarke, Elizabeth Barrett Browning: A Portrait (London, [1929]), pp. 295–296.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. Year provided by reference to the return address. Day and month based on letter 3235, in which EBB tells Henrietta that “the Storys were here last night” (the 26th), and that William Wetmore Story had made a trial of automatic writing. In the present letter, EBB indicates that she saw Mrs. Story “yesterday” and states in the last paragraph that she had been “trying this morning with a pencil.” See also note 2.
2. A visit from Mrs. Stisted; see the first paragraph of the 27 July portion of letter 3235.
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