3813. EBB to Euphrasia Fanny Haworth

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 23, 3.

39. Devonshire Place–

Saturday. [?5] [July 1856] [1]

My dearest Fanny I have both your notes, & am full of tender sympathy & pity with you & for you, do believe me. [2] We are engaged, both of us, on sunday, & it will not be possible to follow my heart & see you then—but if there is another day, I will try & do it, though I have to work with both hands & a foot from morning till night, & feel desperate (even so) of finishing work properly.

Dear Fanny, I understand & feel for you so much!– You will be better when it is over, & you are gone—& if I were you I should be inclined to hasten everything & go. [3] That pulling up by the roots, by any slow process, is terrible. Still, remember that it must be better presently—& that the silent days which are falling heavily now, do something, each of them, towards a lighter manner of life after a certain number of such has fallen. I suppose you could not come here for an hour? You would rather not? Well—I must get to you & see you face to face– May God bless you, dearest Fanny–

Your ever affectionate Ba–

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Fitzwilliam Museum.

1. Conjectural date suggested by EBB’s reference to the recent death of Fanny Haworth’s mother (see note 2) and to the Brownings’ being engaged on Sunday. On 6 July 1856, a Sunday, they dined at the Procters’ (see letter 3814).

2. Fanny’s mother, Euphrasia Haworth (1780–1856), had died on 10 June.

3. Fanny was disposing of her mother’s effects and closing up the house at 45 Onslow Square. By letter 3832, she had left for Germany with her brother.

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