4075. EBB to Sophia Eckley

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 24, 188–189.

[Florence]

[mid-October 1857] [1]

It’s a lovely day, but there’s a cloud, dearest Sophie. The cloud is that I cant go with you, having engaged myself just an hour ago to drive with another friend later—and it is impossible for me to go out twice in the day– One drive conquers me for four & twenty hours. Dear, how sorry I am,—but how I thank you–

Your loving EBB—

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Berg Collection.

1. Approximate dating based on a more intimate closing than that used in earlier letters to Mrs. Eckley and on EBB’s reference to a “drive with another friend.” Besides Mrs. Eckley, Mrs. Kinney and Isa Blagden also took EBB for carriage rides.

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