3650. EBB to Henrietta Cook
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 21, 301–302.
[London]
Monday– [8 October 1855] [1]
My beloved Henrietta, In the first place .. one word for a million .. I shall be hurt & grieved to the marrow of my heart, if you speak again about the necklace. It was given to you before my marriage– It is your’s & not mine. The worth of the thing I know nothing of—it is nothing to me except for your sake– Very likely it may not be worth as much as you suppose, but whether it is or not, does not change the fact of its belonging to you, Henrietta– Now, if you mean to vex me, you will say a word to this—not though it mean as little as “thank you”—the whole transaction belonging to a bygone time, & by no means to the present– I am only delighted that you should have my gift, (such as the trifle is) & that it was’nt appropriated by a dishonest housemaid as Wilson & I were unjust enough to suspect.
It pleases me that you should like the patterns I sent you—but remember that much of the effect of the little blouse depends on the trimming– Observe—— Illus. [2] It fits tight, & does’nt hang like the common blouse—tied in to the waist by the sash behind. One thing was omitted in the pattern I sent .. namely, the basque in the drawing. The dress does with or without the basque—& Penini has dresses in both kinds—but the basque improves the effect much, I think, & I advise you to apply it. Yes—I sent you the exact pattern from a dress which he wears everyday. He is quite a fairy in his figure, & we should be horribly humiliated, I have no doubt, if there had been a happy opportunity of confronting him with Altham. So much older too!– Not that Penini is short for his age– I think he is not– But his bones are small, & he has a very infantine look, & a very fairy-like delicacy of make– The black velvet will look very pretty if arranged after this pattern—& I dont think it is an extravagant costume after all, it wears so excellently.
Dearest dear Henrietta, it is very dear of you to care so for missing me– Its sad for me—yet with all my regrets I cannot wish that you had come. The decision was too wise to be regretted, dear– Then, I cant feel this time as if I were going from you—no, indeed. Paris is only like Norfolk—scarcely so far. And I shall be back again in a few months– You will see. Meanwhile if you are really sent to Aldershot how convenient that will be! Oh—I shall anxiously wait to hear where you are sent– To have you rudely transplanted, as you are now, would be too hard.
We dont leave town on wednesday—perhaps on saturday—perhaps on monday even—later, no. The fact is Mr Kenyon comes to London today, & Miss Bayley arrived a day or two ago to entreat us to wait a little for his sake.
We have just had a visit from Bailey the poet, (author of Festus) & as Robert was’nt at home the first half hour, I had some private conversation with him about “spirits” & men– After telling me that Alexander Smith squints awfully, he passed to the spirit question—told me he had seen much, & that the idea of “imposture, delusion” &c was not, in his opinion, to be entertained. He said he received the facts .. though without being fixed as to any spiritual theory. It’s curious how the subject is being taken up by thinking people on all sides, though, from the want of tolerance in others, there is little open discussion–
Can you read what I have written? I have been torn to pieces by visitors of all sorts the whole day long—& now there is’nt time to add a word, or even to read over what I have written. Only I must say how very much concerned I am for poor Susan’s great affliction– Do tell me how Mr Stone is– [3] Write & tell me—and tell me of your dear self before I go– There’s time for another letter–
May God bless you & yours, dearest!–
Your ever affectionate
Ba–
Quite useless of Bummy, though so kindly meant. Best love to Surtees from both of us–
Publication: Huxley, p. 231 (in part).
Manuscript: British Library.
1. Date provided by EBB’s reference to Kenyon’s imminent arrival in London. In letter 3645 she told Henrietta, “Mr. Kenyon comes on monday.”
2. At the bottom of the sketch EBB has written: “Sometimes the trimming may be carried round the skirt so.”
3. Thomas Bruce Stone (1820–55), a surgeon, son of William Stone, of Grays Thurrock, and his wife Sarah, died on 7 October at Little Waltham, Essex. He had married Susannah (“Susan”) Cook, Surtees’s youngest sister, on 9 May 1855 at St. Margaret’s, Westminster; their brother the Rev. John Aubone Cook officiated.
___________________
