301. EBB to Julia Martin
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 134.
Hope End.
Thursday. [ca. May 1828] [1]
My dear Mrs Martin,
I am happy to be able to tell you that Mr Carden was here two days ago, and that he has not thought it necessary to adopt any violent measure, with regard to our beloved invalid. He seems entirely to rely, for her ultimate restoration, upon a discipline as to diet, and a course of strengthening medicine. This is most satisfactory to us; and her spirits have been soothed & tranquillized by his visit. She has slept quietly for the last few nights—and reports herself to be brisker & stronger, & to be comparatively free from pain. This account is perhaps too favorable, and will appear so to you when you see her, as I am afraid you will, not looking much better, much more cheerful, than when you paid us your last visit. But when we are very willing to hope, we are apt to be too ready to hope: tho’ really, without being too sanguine, we may consider quiet nights & diminished pain to be satisfactory signs of amendment. I know you will be glad to hear of them,—& I hope you will witness them very soon, in spite of this repulsive snow. It will do Mama good, & I am sure it will give us all pleasure, to benefit by some of your charitable pilgrimages over the hill.
With our best regards, & sincerest thanks for your kind interest—believe me dear Mrs Martin
Most truly yours
E B Barrett.
Address, on integral page: Mrs James Martin / Overbury / Tewksbury.
Publication: LEBB, I, 6–7.
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. This letter is later than the preceding one, because here EBB reports that her mother had at last been visited by Mr. Carden, medical consultant. Seemingly this was his first visit; it would not have been the same one reported to Mr. Boyd in letter 305, because the days of the week do not match.
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