4016. RB to Charlotte Stisted

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 24, 94–95.

Casa Guidi, Via Maggio, 1902.

July 20. ’57.

Dear Miss Stisted,

Your kindness on so many occasions emboldens me to trouble you with a question: is there any cool [1] apartment,—the size of Tolomei’s, [2] —still to be had at the Bagni? & If so,—at what price? Probably all the good places are engaged—and were there one left, by any happy chance, we are far from sure we should take it,—but we should be glad to know how the fact is– Will your goodness enable us to do so?

Kind regards to the Colonel & Mrs Stisted from my wife—but with them, those of

Yours faithfully ever,

Robert Browning.

P.S. Pray understand me—do not make any enquiries even, or take the least trouble—it is very uncertain whether we should take a really good apartment, were it to be had: but you are omniscient in your own domain and might have the particulars of just what we want, at your fingers’ ends—so I venture to write, as I said.

Address: Miss Stisted, / Bagni alla Villa, / Bagni di Lucca.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.

1. Underscored three times.

2. In 1853 the Brownings spent the summer at Casa Tolomei in Alla Villa, Bagni di Lucca. EBB wrote in letter 3231 that they paid “fifty francesconi” (about eleven pounds) for a stay of thirteen weeks.

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