3336. RB to William Wetmore Story

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 20, 98–99.

[Rome]

Thursday Eg [?9] [February 1854] [1]

Dear Story,

Just as I was going to you,—who should come in but the Brauns—having taken Thursday for Tuesday: I am forced to stay & help Ba,—who has a cough & headache that quite justify all my savageness about her unnecessary zeal—it has all happened as I foresaw, in short. So I lose my pleasant evening with you, and just now too!

Ever yours,

RB.

Address, on integral page: W. Story Esq.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: McGill University.

1. Conjectural date suggested by RB’s reference to EBB’s cough and “her unnecessary zeal.” In letter 3349, EBB tells Arabella that her cough was the result of an “imprudence.” As the cough was not mentioned in the previous letter to Arabella (3333), we place this letter on the first Thursday afterwards.

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