3941. EBB to Sarianna Browning
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 23, 160–161.
[Florence]
[Postmark: 22 December 1856]
My dearest Sarianna, Yes indeed—the loss of my beloved friend, [1] however necessarily I was prepared for it, & though his last written words to me expressed a continuous yearning for such an end to suffering, was a heavy sadness at the time, & will sadden for very long the places & the things associated with his kindness. It is a great gap among the souls (in the body) [2] who are tender & faithful,—& we shall feel it (I shall certainly) very, very long– He has stood to me for years in almost my father’s place—& now the place is doubly vacant.
Will you tell dear M. Milsand with my love, that I read his letter with astonishment! It was both a pleasure & a surprise. Never did I dare to think that he would like my poem. Try to thank him for me—try to make him understand how much he has gratified me– But Robert will be writing soon.
Oh perverse Sarianna! Now observe,—we will not let you off about the clock. If you knew how mortified I felt in having to leave your chimney piece in that unnatural unParisian condition—how often I drew Robert’s attention to it,—& how nothing but his preposterous prudence (of which you know something)—prevented his making the purchase while we were in Paris. And now, when having waited to the hour of his discretion, we were both pleasing ourselves with the idea of the thing’s being done, .. you make a difficulty– As to waiting till we come!! .. you would not surely throw the burden of a choice on Robert!– You know his mania about shops & shopping. Be generous & spare him that trial. And be generous & dont grudge either of us our pleasure,—but go out at once & please us—will you, dear? You will see how a pretty clock will light up & refine your room .. now, you will see. Be gracious for once, Sarianna, & obedient. The money is sent to you through Mr R B, [3] &
<…> [4]
the same paper last year. For the rest, I suppose ‘Aurora’ has a success really, in the vulgar way. And, dearest Sarianna, just see the worth of such successes as far as pleasure goes! Two of my most tender friends, whom the gain would have most deeply gratified, are gone before they can hear of it [5] —and another, dearer & closer than a friend, would be better pleased to hear of my discomfiture than my success– [6] So it is–
Still, of course I am glad. And then, how good you have been, you! And give my grateful love to your father & tell him that I will write to him by the next letter to thank him– Now Robert cries out that he must seal up his envelope.
You will have observed lately that I have been unlearning to write. May God bless you! We shall sit in spirit, on Christmas Day—so think of us all three [7] of you, over the plum-pudding. Well—I should be proud if I were you, Sarianna.
Your attached Ba.
Why has Mrs Corkran given up her monday evenings, in a public sense?
Address, in RB’s hand: France. / Mademoiselle Browning, / 151. Rue de Grenelle, Faubourg St Germain, / Paris.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Lilly Library.
1. John Kenyon, who died on 3 December 1856.
2. Cf. II Corinthians 12:3.
3. Reuben Browning.
4. Multiple pages of this letter (probably four) are missing.
5. Mary Russell Mitford, who died on 10 January 1855, and the recently deceased John Kenyon.
6. EBB refers to her father.
7. EBB mistakenly thought that Joseph Milsand would be dining with Sarianna and RB, Sr. on Christmas Day (see letter 3942).
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