387. Henrietta Moulton-Barrett to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 264–265.
[Hope End]
[ca. 4 October 1830] [1]
Ma très chere et aimable Ba– I am too happy to screen myself under your wings from the noisy & tempestuous Arabel who having now nobody to keep her in order is quite beyond any orders hearing– For the last three hours she has done nothing but talk in the most nonsensical manner & laughing loud enough for any body to hear her all over the house– All this time I have been as studious as usual reading Napoleon’s life [2] but Alas! I found other obstacles there for when Arabel was quiet for an instant my eyes would close & in spite of the noise I have had two or three dreams in the last half hour– Your letter did please me I will not say how much for fear I should add to your superabundant stock of vanity in reply to your question I can only say that I think you have limited its extent extremely I am sure it would go round the world & back again “without stretching”[.] I heard the other day that a wish was expressed to find out a fault in your character I think when I can get a sheet of the longest fools cap I will write a list of them & that shall be the first. “Vanity the greatest vanity”— But I will defer this subject viz your letter to a later date in mine– Arabel did me the honor of accompanying me in the greatest part of my pedestrian tour today[.] I was very much flattered today by a good woman’s remark to me “Dear Miss How fat you do grow! these walks have done you a sight of good I never saw any body feed so well–” I have had two disappointments can you guess their nature I think you will both Alas arising from my old weakness an unfortunate prospensity to dissipation– An invitation arrived from Mrs Webb yesterday to dine there next Wednesday but on my hinting my intention of going to Papa he said how are you going “To walk—” “in the little carriage” said I [“]what[”] says Papa [“]did not I tell you! you were not to take that out at night?[”] looking rather grave at the same time[.] My other is Mrs Peyton asked Bro Sam & me to go to dine there tomorrow this I have been obliged to refuse Bro & Sam will go to both you know that they are at Mr Deane’s [3] tonight– there is a parcel come for you from Mr Barker not a very large one but I think if we bring it I mean the carriage brings or takes it on Thursday it will answer your purpose[;] a little box came the same day for you Arabel & I feeling very curious to look into it & having at the same time a very good excuse for doing so supposing it to contain game we were trying with our best little abilities to raise the lid when Papa came in[;] at first he looked astonished but he had a touch of the female propensity & helped us– The contents proved to be a piece of wedding cake from Mr & <Mrs> [4] Butler [5] with their cards & with a <…> piece <… Kin>nersley—Tuesday. Papa came home at ten <…> I shewed him your letter he made no <…s>eemed pleased I am very glad you deleted <…> it is neither too early or too late so do <…>asy– One of us will certainly come for <… an>y rate– Bro & Sam were delighted with them<selves> yesterday– their assistance was called for when they were there to attend a poor man who had had an interview with a ghost [6] near the Bartons the poor man was speechless with fear they found him laying down in a meadow flat on his face on the same spot he met this ghost a few days ago she pretended to say that he had promised another interview with her he sat like a stock on his chair when they brought him in with his eyes fixed– Mr Peyton was called out & he was dosing him with salts– it was a cruel [joke] of somebodys– What a lovely day the boy waits & I must go– God bless my beloved Ba
Ever her fondly attached Henrietta
T<he gow>n shall not be forgotten–
Address, on integral page: Miss Barrett / H. S. Boyd’s Esqr / Gt Malvern–
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.
1. This letter is a reply to letter 386.
2. Probably the 4-volume Life of Napoleon Buonaparte (1828–30) by William Hazlitt (1778–1830).
3. The Rev. Thomas Dean, Curate of St. James’s Church, Colwall, where the Barretts usually worshipped. In addition to his curacy, Mr. Dean ran a boarding school for 16 young gentlemen “who enjoy the advantages of careful Education, united with the domestic comforts and affectionate tenderness of their own home” (Hereford Journal, 5 January 1831).
4. Page torn.
6. Letter 390 identifies this man as one of Mr. Peyton’s workers, named Abbotts.
___________________
