3951. EBB to Euphrasia Fanny Haworth

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 23, 188.

[Florence]

[ca. January 1857] [1]

My dearest Fanny, do send me back a verbal message to say how you are– I hoped to get in to you, but this cold really frightens me, & my soul has gone out of me as usual.

Perhaps it is that—perhaps, your letter yesterday. Oh, you humiliate me, Fanny, with all this praise– You are too good, too kind—or you see me indeed as you say, through “the fog of your cold,”—which accounts for dilation.

I send back Mr Spicer’s letter, & the other– That, we will speak of– Do send me a faithful message–

And is there anything we can do for you? send you? Have you soup?

Your ever affectionate

Ba–

Address, on integral page: Miss Haworth.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.

1. Approximate dating based on EBB’s references to the recipient’s health and the cold weather, as well as the implication that EBB and Fanny Haworth are in the same city. Miss Haworth resided in Palazzo Guidi from November 1856 to March 1857 (see letter 3919, note 1) and was often unwell during much of her stay.

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