3809. EBB to Arabella Moulton-Barrett
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 22, 254.
3. Rue du Colysée–
Friday– [27 June 1856] [1]
Beloved Arabel, You will think, by the sight of this, that we are not coming. But I only write to warn you, to pray you, to get us provided with something to eat for sunday at breakfast—one looks far into the future for a breakfast– It strikes us that you may be over-delicate about Mr Kenyon’s house—but, his house or not, we must eat, you see, & must have coals &c for a fire in the morning. Let our ordinary tradespeople (yours, I believe!) send in sugar, coffee, tea, eggs, a little cold ham even, perhaps—(it will not hurt Robert)—also, plenty of milk, as we take a good deal with our coffee. Mrs Collier will understand that we may be allowed to use the kitchen, & that we mean to give as little trouble as possible, really. (N.B. Whatever happens, Arabel has trouble by it.)
It has set in intensely hot, & I am half afraid of the scorching & suffocating, which will come, on such days, by travelling. We go by Boulogne—taking advantage of our unusual pecuniary prosperity just now, to be guilty of that extravagance. I went with Robert to Lady Elgin’s the other evening (for the first time of being up to it,) & was received with the warmest benedictions & embraces– But really Robert has been very kind to her in reading Keats & other poets, & there is not so much wonder that she should a little like me for his sake– She looked well—but I was pained to observe an indistinctness in her articulation. Still, it is beautiful to feel her freshness & enthusiasm about everything—green to the edge of the grave! young to the last. Lady Augusta Bruce too, I like—but she is of a lower nature. She invited us to Frogmore [2] by the way, when she goes back next month.
Robert was at Dr Castle’s last night .. a very agreeable house, [3] where all manner of artists, & spiritualists, & mesmerists generally, do congregate. I wanted so to go, but was too tired with paying farewell visits & walking up stairs. You will think Peni looking well, it seems to me. He is very well– God bless you all–
Darling Arabel, your Ba–
Ask the people in York Street to forward to Devonshire Place, or to keep, whatever may arrive for us–
Shall I see you on sunday? Can it be?—— What joy!
Publication: EBB-AB, II, 242–243.
Manuscript: Gordon E. Moulton-Barrett.
1. Date provided by EBB’s reference to the Brownings’ imminent departure; 27 June 1856 was the last Friday before the Brownings travelled from Paris to London, arriving on 29 June.
2. Frogmore House in the Home Park, Windsor, seat of Queen Victoria’s mother, the Duchess of Kent (1786–1861), to whom Lady Augusta Bruce was lady-in-waiting.
3. The Castles resided at 26 Rue de Penthièvre, a short distance from the Brownings’ apartment.
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