3602. EBB to Henrietta Cook
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 21, 232–234.
13. Dorset street.
Wednesday [22 August 1855] [1]
My very dearest Henrietta you are a darling, and Surtees is an angel, and altogether it’s the best news I have had since I touched English ground. (My native soil is seldom propitious to me!)
Dearest Henrietta I accept you gratefully, however clipped of your wings & glories [2] (meaning Surtees & Mary) & shall have the greatest joy in seeing you, dear, dear!–
But now .. Arabel & I have something to leave to your decision–
Only this morning, after I had just begun to fine down [3] a little from the obstreperous joy [4] of looking to see you, in comes Arabel to say that papa had proposed to them all “to take a house at Ramsgate, & after a time, if any of them should like to go to Paris where there is so much to see!.. (fancy Papa!) why they might go.”
Upon which Robert agrees, as he said he would, (there are good things about Robert too) to remove in a fortnight or so to Ramsgate .. in order to enjoy the rest of Arabel, & afford some advantages to Penini. Afterwards we shall carry off Arabel to Paris, I hope, in great joy & triumph–
Now what we want you to consider is this. Will you come to London as you propose? or will you rather wait a fortnight & go to the sea? You get to Ramsgate for half a crown by the boat—and we would manage a room for you wherever we are. The expense would be nothing at all to any of us—you should live with us of course. Well, then—Arabel and I say .. Consider the immense advantage of sea-air for Altham! It might really set him up for the winter. It acts miraculously in regard to delicate children, and I for my own part expect a full crop of roses in my Penini’s cheeks from the influence of it. As to Peni, I am by no means contented with him just now. He looks wretchedly, it seems to me—dark under the eyes, & thin– London does as little good to him as London always does to me—& though there is not in reality much the matter (or in fact anything) he yet looks like another child from the one we brought here– So if you come, we can sigh together & sympathize over pale cheeks & thin arms. Little Peni wants good air & light, which you cant get here anyhow–
Now, Henrietta, do you & Surtees think it quietly over– I believe you are not well, though you dont name yourself in this letter– A fortnight or so’s sea air might re-instate you both– But you must decide as dear Surtees shall think best—and, however that may be, I am very very grateful to him, tell him with my right sisterly love, for sparing you to me– It is most kind, most kind.
Do you know how I must replace Wilson for two months—how she must go to her family, & let us go to Paris as we can?– We take her back after the event, & the baby is to remain with a wet-nurse– [5] It’s a great inconvenience & greater vexation—but I am getting over it now—and Arabel has heard of a lady’s maid & nurse in one, who can make dresses & dress hair, & wants to go to Paris, & can look out for a situation there instead of expecting to have her way back paid– Of course Ferdinando & Wilson will leave us ultimately (when we have carried them back to Italy) as they cant live on with babies scattered over the globe– It’s the breaking up therefore of our comfort, as far as they are concerned–
I hear of Bummy expressing the highest approbation of Wilton & all things therein– Give her my best love.
What joy to see you & dear little Altham! Oh– Peni was about to write to him, being delighted with his letter– (How well the darling writes!) Peni is enchanted at the thought of having him to play with.
Poor darling Arabel has just come back in tears from the Strattens,—Fanny Stratten is dying– [6] It is a most dreadful affliction, under whatever condition of Christian fortitude & consolation on the side of the bereaved parents. God help us all– Write.
Your ever attached Ba
Publication: Huxley, pp. 221–222 (in part).
Manuscript: British Library.
1. Date provided by EBB’s reference to Ramsgate as a possible meeting place, which is further discussed in letter 3603.
2. Cf. Thomas Moore, “The Veiled Prophet of Khorassan” (Lalla Rookh, 1817), line 561.
3. The OED gives: “To fine away, down: to make gradually finer; to thin off, whittle away or down (either a material or an immaterial thing)” and cites EBB’s usage in “A Child Asleep” (1844), lines 38–39: “To fine down this childish beauty / To the thing it must be made.”
4. Cf. RB, “Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came” (Men and Women, 1855), line 22.
5. Wilson was about seven months pregnant, Ferdinando being the father (see letter 3575, note 3).
6. Frances (“Fanny”) E. Stratten (b. 1831), the only surviving daughter of James and Rebekah Stratten, died on 31 August 1855. Her death certificate gives causes of death as “uterine disease” and “phthisis.”
___________________
