3893. EBB to Rebekah Stratten
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 23, 96.
[London]
[17 October 1856] [1]
My dear Mrs Stratten
I am very very sorry to have to leave England without seeing you and dear Mr Stratten, but there seems to be no alternative. We have been hoping from day to day that my husband & I might go to you together—otherwise he would have gone alone– Day by day, however, I have been suffering more & more from the climate, spending my nights in coughing, & forced at last to give up the satisfaction of saying ‘goodbye’ to my friends, and of seeing you– I am shut up in the house, at the risk of being worse & unable perhaps to leave England at all—and so, I do hope, my dear Mrs Stratten, you will look in my child’s face & give him a kiss, and forgive his mother for .. what she loses. My husband who has been waiting for me, & is now driven to the verge of time, .. having to rush east & west upon business .. desires me to state the case as it is to you– It was altogether my fault .. that is, my infirmity.
We had the consolation of receiving the Lord’s supper from dear Mr Stratten’s hands when he administered it last, and of observing that neither his soul nor his voice flagged in the preceding service. That was immediately after our return to London. And then, the fog siezed me by the throat.
May God bless you both, & make you happy, as He can .. without an instrument [2] .. even as He can save spiritually without an instrument–
If I had seen you, I had meant to commend to you my beloved sister Arabel, this winter .. in order that you might use your influence to prevent her over-exerting herself in the schools & when the weather gets cold, or even when the weather is warm. She minds me no more than Balaam did his ass, [3] —but if the angel spoke .. if dear Mr Stratten would speak when the opportunity shall occur, .. it would be otherwise—and really sometimes she works beyond her strength, & over the limit of duty therefore.
We are doubtful whether we shall get off tomorrow or not,—but if not, it must be monday– Our hope & intention are, to return next year—& then, .. may I be happier & see you– In affectionate & grateful regards,
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Address: Mrs Stratten / 65. Hamilton Terrace / St John’s Wood.
Docket, in unidentified hand: 39 Devonshire Place / Oct 17th.
Publication: Manuscripts, 18 (Fall 1966), 29 (in part).
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. Day and month provided by docket. Year provided by reference to the docket address.
2. Cf. Isaiah 38:20.
3. See Numbers 22:21–34.
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