384. EBB to Henrietta Moulton-Barrett & Arabella Moulton-Barrett
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 258–260.
[Malvern]
Friday. [24 September 1830] [1]
My ever dearest Henrietta & Arabel, again!
Thank you for your charities in the shape of letters & other supplies. As Mr Boyd was allowed to have a voice in the business, he will not, he says, allow me to go away on Saturday, & did not seem quite to like my having even thought of it. “What could be the reason?” It is so very late that I shall not have time to say much more,—& I am actually & positively writing in my night gown—Arabel’s favorite costume! Let me recollect what I have said & done, since I scribbled last. I have been saying & doing everything probable & characteristic & admirable (of course!) in Mr Boyd’s room, where I sit from morning till night, except at walking & dining times. Today I have been there even longer than usual on account of Mr Attree the Quaker having come; & Mr Boyd asking me not to go out for fear of missing him. When he arrived in the morning, I ran up stairs, because I knew that two persons at once in Mr Boyd’s room are not generally considered bearable. However Mr Boyd sent for me, & made me sit down as a third. After an hour’s tête-à-tête-ing, the Quaker went away, with the intention of returning at six & spending the evening here. So Mr Boyd desired me to come into his room at six in order to meet his visitor, who was to spend the hour & a half before tea in the Greek room, & the rest of the evening in the drawing room. If Arabel could have looked thro’ the window & seen Mr Boyd the Quaker & me, she would have interjectionized more than ever! I did not very much like the anticipation of this privy counsel, & would have infinitely prefered my usual way of sharing Mr Boyd’s solitude. And how do you think he opened the discussion– “I wish Mr Attree you would explain to this young Lady who is quite an unbeliever in the science, your phrenological views; and I wish that afterwards you would examine her organs. Whatever her unbelief may be, I am sure she will oblige me by allowing you to do so.” I was considerably relieved when Mr Attree acknowledged himself to be too imperfectly acquainted with the subject, to be competent to decide on my organs. He talked with intelligence & clearness: & in a manner pleasing from its being neither arrogant nor affected. When tea was announced from the drawing room, Mr Attree & I adjourned there; & after I had dispatched mine, I returned by myself to Mr Boyd, & sate with him till half past ten, his hour for going to bed. In the meantime the Quaker was making himself quite agreable to Mrs Boyd Annie & Miss Gibbons; and I found him on the same seat when I returned to the drawing room. There he stayed until twelve——& was wet [2] enough to ask for music, & talk to me about poetry. “Wilt thou tell me thy opinion of living English poets?” And “Dost thou know whether Benjamin Stokes, introduced to me by thy Papa, doth feel poetry?” He talked to me about Barnard Barton, [3] & more et cæteras than I can find room for; and promised to send me a manuscript elegy on Ld Byron by the author of Lacon. [4]
I suppose you may care to know that Prince Leopold arrived here today,—much to poor Mr Boyd’s annoyance, as he has been canonaded royally. [5] Can I say anything for you to the Duchess? Of course I am very sorry to hear of your all being well. Mr Boyd is more, much more nervous than I like to see him. By running across his room the other day, I subjected myself to a gentle reproof “Dont do that again. You did not make a noise, but you made a vibration.” I am dreaming of seeing my dearest Papa tomorrow on his way to Worcester.
Forgive all my incoherences. Best of loves, & the most fervent of prayers are now & for ever with you, from my heart & lips.
Your most affectionate Ba.
I should think it was nearly one oclock. You see I am always obliged to write very hastily & late, on account of being so much engaged all day—so it will be fair in you to forgive erratas.
After all I have omitted saying what you may call the only news worth hearing. The Quaker has been at the Moneys, & met there a large party, & among them several clever people. “Clever people in this neighbourhood?” said Mr Boyd with a note of admiration! Quoth the Quaker, “Thou art too sweeping in thy censures”! Captain Money [6] was there, & actually informed the company that he was the Messiah. Daniel, he said, was a type of him. Colonel Money, Mr Attree observed, appeared, & was of course, much distressed.
I meant to have written three lines—& I have written a letter. If you can read it you may be proud of yourselves.
Miss Gibbons is a pleasing, Ladylike girl. I have not been in the village once, since my arrival. I wish you would write; for I feel more comfortable after hearing. Send dear Bummy’s letter.
Friday.
Address, on integral page: Miss Henrietta Barrett / Hope End / Ledbury.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: In private collection.
1. Dated by the arrival of Prince Leopold (see letter 382, note 5).
2. “Wet” when applied to a member of the Quaker sect implies a lack of strictness (OED).
3. Bernard Barton (1784–1849), Quaker poet.
4. Lacon: or, Many Things in Few Words (1820), by Charles Caleb Colton (1780?–1832).
5. Boyd was very sensitive to noise and would have been upset by the firing of the cannon on the arrival of the Prince.
6. Capt. Rowland Money, R.N., younger brother of Col. James Money-Kyrle and the Rev. Kyrle Ernle Money.
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