4043. EBB to Sarianna Browning
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 24, 134–135.
[Bagni di Lucca]
[ca. 9 September 1857] [1]
My dearest Sarianna Things go better with us than they did, in some respects at least, for I thank God poor Lytton is out of danger & beyond fear, except that his reduced state (he is a white shadow of himself) & general delicacy exact the greatest care. He goes back to Florence on saturday with Isa Blagden,—as it is considered that the change to the dryer air will be favorable to him,—& though it is said to be still very hot at Florence, (it is hot here!) the medical opinion is imperative. Meanwhile we have got up a pleasant little grievance of our own, in Wilson’s case, of which Robert may have told you. Symptoms of premature delivery—unless (which is probable enough) she has mistaken her situation by two months! [2] There she is in bed—& Dr Trotman told me comfortingly that there she may be forced to stay for two months more. She is not ill, at all—only there are symptoms. For my part I expect the scream of a baby every hour. Is’nt it agreeable?– If things become right, & if, on getting up, she finds herself able, we shall let her go to Florence at once without waiting for us– She is anxious to be at home naturally. But I am full of apprehension even about the journey—and under all the circumstances, the baby at once would be compounded for willingly by me.
As far as we are concerned, it is lucky that a dressmaker who used to come to us to work, at Florence, & was always a great friend of Peni’s, happened to be here. We sent for her at once, & she is in the house, helping Peni & me, and she is in admiration at Peni’s goodness. He stands quite still to be dressed & washed as long as she tells him “una novella,” [3] she says– But he has been in tears this morning, poor child, because of my engaging another maid who will come at the end of the month. “Nay,” said I, “but I engaged an Italian on purpose to please you.” “Oh,” he cried with a burst ot tears, “Italian, German, French, English, .. no woman in the world pleases me except Lily (meaning Wilson) and Zerlinda.” (Zerlinda is his friend the dressmaker who of course cant stay.) The new maid Annunziata [4] who is to be comes to me from Mrs Greville [5] with the highest character. She is under thirty, “can make dresses,” “dress hair,” is “affectionate,” “obliging,” a “pattern of honesty & activity”—all the virtues—has lived with Lady Dillon, [6] Mrs Scarlett, [7] other known persons, who give dazzling testimonials. Let me try to believe for once in human perfection.
I do hope Dieppe has benefitted you both as much as you expected. Here is Robert calling for my letters– May God bless you. Peni’s dear love to the nonno with mine–
Your ever affectionate
Ba–
Address, in RB’s hand: France / Mademoiselle Browning, / 151. Rue de Grenelle, / Faubourg St Germain, / Paris.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Lilly Library.
1. Approximate dating suggested by a Paris postmark of 14 September 1857 and by EBB’s reference to Lytton’s departure for Florence, which occurred on Saturday, 12 September.
3. “A tale.”
4. Annunziata Lena (b. 1828), second daughter and third child of Pietro Lena (b. 1799), of Bagni di Lucca, and his wife, Teresa (née Chiappa, b. 1805). She remained with the Brownings until EBB’s death. For this and other annotations that draw upon Italian sources in the present volume, the editors gratefully acknowledge the scholarly assistance of Simonetta Berbeglia, of Arezzo, Italy.
5. Georgiana Cecilia Greville (née Locke, 1798–1867), wife of Robert Fulke Murray Greville (1800–67) of Castle Hall, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire. She resided at Pisa but spent the summers of 1856–1858 at Casa Webb, Alla Villa (ICS).
6. Doubtless, Henrietta Dillon-Lee, Dowager Viscountess Dillon (née Browne, 1789–1862), who married Henry Augustus Dillon-Lee (1777–1832), 13th Viscount Dillon, in 1807 (see ODNB). They settled at Florence in 1814.
7. Frances Sophia Mostyn Scarlett (née Lomax, 1824–49), wife of Peter Campbell Scarlett (1804–81), secretary of the British legation in Florence from 1844 to 1855.
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