3966. EBB to Sarianna Browning
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 24, 10–11.
[Florence]
[Postmark: 15 February 1857]
My dearest Sarianna I am afraid that what I have chiefly to tell you is of “good health” on the part of all of us .. which, however satisfactory, will not be particularly amusing. Robert was threatened with a bilious attack, but walked it off yesterday to Fiesole—& our Penini is radiant. We are in high Carnival just now (to his immense satisfaction) and Florence is buzzing with masks all day & all night, under a brilliant sun & golden moon, bathed by very sharp air. Fanny Haworth has a fit of influenza by way of change– She was presented however at the Pitti the other evening, & is to be at Lady Normanby’s ball tomorrow, if at all well enough. I expect a crisis otherwise—but say nothing. She is sure to marry someone—& better now than later—& better an amiable man than a rascal, as it might well be. With four or five hundred a year & the mind intensely matrimonial, there can be no final escape. Still, there’s no declaration even, as yet—only there seems to be preparation. [1]
My brother George sent me a number of the National Magazine yesterday, with my face in it, after Marshall Wood’s medallion. [2] My comfort is that my greatest enemy will not take it to be like me,—only that does’nt go far, since with the indifferent public the portrait will have its due weight, in arresting (I should suppose) the sale of Aurora Leigh from henceforth. You never saw a more determined visage of a strongminded woman, on the neck of a vicious bull, than has the name in full of EBB under it–!– Penini says, “Its too old, and not enough pretty”—which is soothing. It’s something to be flattered by Penini, let other artists be ever so much on the other side.
Robert will tell you perhaps that we had a very kind letter from Miss Bayley after all, & how she says she has commended your chairs to the care of someone in authority. [3] I dont like advising—but I feel persuaded that the expense of carriage wd not be so immoderate– What was immoderate in the carriage of our boxes, was the custom-dues & other expenses between Leghorn & Florence. Then again, if you should like to settle in England ultimately, (& if your father set his heart much on it, you would not like to thwart him, I am sure, & you might live either near London or at Brighton or Hastings, you know) .. if you should decide on settling in England, you wd like your chairs. Perhaps a little time for consideration may be as well, after all my good advice lost on the virtues of decision.
We hear a great deal of the perfection of the climate of Algiers, & Robert talks of it for the future. Love to dear M. Milsand. Peni is meditating a letter to his dearest Nonno [4] & Sarianna—to whom his & my love together–
My father is much better, I thank God, & this relieves me from a weight of daily oppression. May God bless you, dear.
Your ever affectionate sister
Ba
Offer my love to Mr & Mrs Corkran.
Address, in RB’s hand: Mademoiselle Browning / 151. Rue de Grenelle, Faubg St Germn / Paris.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Lilly Library.
1. EBB refers to Fanny Haworth’s current suitor, Giovanni Lotti.
4. “Grandfather.”
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