3698. EBB to Alfred Moulton-Barrett
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 22, 48–49.
3. Rue du Colyssée [sic]
Avenue des Champs Elyssées. [sic]
Dec. 20– [1855]
[1]My dearest Alfred
Our two letters crossed– I only hope you received mine. I would not write again till I could send you my address in Paris—and we fell into a trap in Paris .. into a miserable apartment without top, bottom, or sides, where we were held fast for two months, we trying hard to let it, & go. Never was I so uncomfortable in my life. Robert had to dress in the salon, and Penini to sleep on the floor in our bedroom—and the exposition was to the east, and the draughts flew about everywhere like birds of prey. Of course I was extremely unwell, with a return of some of my worst symptoms—and Robert talked desperately of throwing up the house, rent & all. Which would have been madness– How could we afford to pay twenty pounds for nothing? So I used all my small wifely influence (very small, is’nt it, Lizzie?) and persuaded him to patience– And we endured; saw out the month, & now, for a recompense, are most comfortably established in a street just turning out of the Champs Elyssées .. in most comfortable rooms—not large, nor gaudy .. but convenient & very warm– But oh, the weather, the frost!– Your northern winters are hard to bear.
Still I am considerably better, & I shall get on I dare say. As to Penini he has got on. In London he grew pale & thin,—but here he has blown out his cheeks with a rose canvas. Paris always agrees well with him.
And you, both of you– Dearest Alfred & Lizzie, mind you be good & write to me, & tell me what you are doing & talking of, & whether you are very tired of one another yet. (That, of course ..) Have you any society? Do you talk French? Will Lizzie manage a Christmas out of England? Do you dream of coming up to Paris? There’s a bunch of questions for you.
I have not heard from Wimpole Street for some days, and I am anxious to hear, for Arabel has been less strong than usual since their return from Eastbourne &, though she makes nothing of it, I cant help being hungry about letters. You are aware perhaps that Henrietta expects another confinement in April—which prevented her coming to London to see me. I had a dismal London-visit after all—and here it has been dismal too from another cause, & we have been lying perdue behind the door, away from all our acquaintances except such as burrowed for us. Now, we shall creep out a little. Robert will, at least. Charles Dickens lives opposite. Sir Edward Lytton has spent an evening with us, & I liked him much better than I thought possible before.
Penini consoled himself for the degradation of sleeping on the floor by observing that it was “just lite the soldiers at Sebastopol”– He is in great force—never ceases talking from morning till night, & is the best & dearest child in the world in my opinion. May God bless you both, dearest Alfred & Lizzie! Robert’s love & Penini’s too. Penini says “I hope untle Alfred has’nt forgotten me. Tell him I’ve just walked to the Bois de Boulogne, & that the ice is dreadful.”
your ever affectionate Ba–
Address: À Monsieur / Monsieur Barrett / Poste Restante / Marseille.
Publication: Ronald Hudson, “Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Her Brother Alfred,” Browning Institute Studies, 2 (1974), 154–155.
Manuscript: Eton College Library.
1. Year provided by postmark.
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