3654. EBB to Isa Blagden

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 21, 307.

13. Dorset Street–

Monday– [15 October 1855] [1]

Thank you dearest Isa– You are virtue itself– You say, “cheap”—I, with Florentine ideas thought, “dear”. So the thing was, however.

I am vexed not to have seen you, dear Isa. Every day I have expected the sight of you by an illusion—& of course, you have very much to do–

Sarianna went to Paris the day after you were here, [2] but the apartment was taken, & we must make the best of it, and let it, if we cant make it tenable for ourselves. There’s an internal staircase which helps the convenience a good deal– Direct to us therefore at 102 Rue de Grenelle, Faubourg St Germain, Paris– Oh I am disappointed to have to tell you so—having hoped that your own apartment was taken, & that you might possibly go even before us. And now … not till January!!! In that case, you will go straight to Florence, I know. All your desires & intentions about Paris, to end in this!

We are on a first floor—& the distance between us & the Champs Elysées is nothing with a carriage—& you would’nt walk in any case– [3]

Penini is enchanted with his cards, & thanks you for them fervently. I am under high pressure of circumstances, as you may suppose just now– Here’s Bailey’s poem, [4] —from the author– Come– We will lend it to you in Paris–

Your ever most affectionate

Ba–

Publication: B-IB, p. 81.

Manuscript: Fitzwilliam Museum.

1. Dated by EBB’s reference to the Brownings’ forthcoming return to Paris. They left London on 17 October 1855, a Wednesday.

2. Sarianna returned to Paris on 11 October (see letter 3652).

3. Because of her bad knee (see letter 3313, note 7, and letter 3351, note 12).

4. The Mystic and Other Poems (1855) by Philip James Bailey was just published by Chapman and Hall. This presentation copy formed part of lot 1117 in Browning Collections (see Reconstruction, A148) and is inscribed: “R. Browning with the Author’s kind regards.”

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