3540. EBB to Isa Blagden

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 21, 129–130.

[Florence]

[early April 1855] [1]

My dearest Isa I send the table, and we will go to you on saturday if we can, and we can of course—but (here’s my but) on saturday morning I go to Mr Kirkup’s & I would rather go to you when there’s no previous going out. Would you have us on friday instead, or sunday if the latter proposition does’nt shock you too much? Either day does for us. I wont send Penini today because it looks inclined to rain– Another day for Penini– As to my being tired, dearest Isa, I am always delighted to go to you, & everything that pleases us much is sure to tire us more or less– It’s a property of pleasure–

Your man changes his mind, & wont carry the table, he says, till tomorrow—why, I cant imagine. Well—we all change. Robert says I shant be tired on saturday—overtired! And I dare say on second thoughts I shant– So, on saturday let it be.

I write you what would commonly be called a “rigmarole” today, with three minutes to write it in– Your rural man being less benignant than usual perhaps, I wont keep him any longer. Do always say how you are to

Your ever affectionate

Ba–

Publication: B-IB, pp. 61–62 (as [?December 1854]).

Manuscript: Fitzwilliam Museum.

1. Dated by EBB’s reference to visiting Seymour Kirkup and Isa Blagden on the same day. See the last two paragraphs in letter 3541.

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