4101. EBB to Sarianna Browning
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 24, 223–225.
[Florence]
[Postmark: 27 November 1857]
My dearest Sarianna, Robert is going to write, so while he hears Pen’s music I do my share towards the letter. You cant imagine how well that child gets on with his music—it’s really remarkable. He plays two grand pieces from the Traviata, each ever so many pages,—& with a gusto & triumph. His feeling must be strong, when his two hours a day practice, (.. & always he practices during two, .. one with Robert, & one with his master ..) seems only too short for him– Yesterday evening for instance, he & Robert were at the piano again, just to please himself. It’s quite a passion with the child. I wish he cared as much for spelling,—but we must be patient: & in the meanwhile I must tell you that he is much improved in general attention. Also he grows fat, which is a comfort, & looks none the less pretty for it. I have been buying him some new embroidered collars almost worthy of him, & having his velvet hat renewed with a long black feather. Annunciata attends nicely to his hair– She is very indulgent to him, let me add (Ferdinando says, “too much”) & is as good natured as she is active & able in her situation. Indeed, a better servant there cant be– She will upset all your notions of Italian “far niente”-ism, [1] work being her pleasure, to all appearance– Wilson has a new baby, a boy .. to which Peni seems to constitute himself papa & mama at once– Two hours after its birth he assured me that “the baby .. oh, such a most pretty baby! .. knew him, and loved him, oh so much!” Ec[s]tasies there have been about this baby. Since then, with all the airs of parentage he came to consult me about the name–– “We are thinking,” said he, “that Guidi would be a nice name– Only Ferdinando is more inclined to Pylades– What do you think, dear mama”? It’s a pity that Wilson has not her wish of a girl– I should have been provoked, in her place. The apartment is let at last, just as affairs were looking ill, & we were all afraid,—and the cutter of the knot was poor Fanny Haworth. Think of her being carried back here in spite of her plans! She was, on her way to Genoa, interrupted by the floods, sent to Venice, & so diverted from her intention of going by sea to Naples & thence to Rome,—& had to come here with the hope of moving on to Rome at once. On arriving however she finds her money very low—expenses of travelling immense .. banker overdrawn, .. health shaken, & with neither means nor energies to move a step backwards or forwards. I am very sorry for her, poor thing—but it was quite unwise to cross the Alps again this year. Italy does’nt agree with her, plainly—& people ruin themselves without knowing it when they travel– She has taken Wilson’s apartment for a month, & has agreed (much to my wonder) to share her sittingroom with a stranger, an English lady, [2] who is a sort of double of Fanny Haworth, with a counterpart of a round hat and a German mind; & Peni says they each have a piano .. which must be harmonious. (I quote Peni,—for, on account of the tramontana, I have not paid any visits lately.) Nothing can be more undecided than poor Fanny’s plans—but I dare say she wont stir till the winter breaks up, when I do hope she will sensibly make up her mind to settle somewhere, either in Paris or London. By the way, dearest Sarianna, I am not a “wicked woman”—at least not to the degree you suggested! No indeed! Oh, how good you are! how indulgent, not to howl at me that I ought to & must go to England. I may be forced perhaps—but as long as I can, I shall hope to be saved from it—and really, without too much selfishness, it does seem to me that my people should put themselves for once out of the way a little & manage to come to France for my sake. I think so. You & all of us could make out a very pleasant summer somewhere in France, between Paris & Fontain[e]bleau or some seaside place—could’nt we?– If you knew how froissée [3] I have been by family arrangements. Yet all is for the best, I dare say. Only it does make one so sick–
Love to dear M. Milsand. Mrs Crosland & company go away, plainly disgusted with poor Florence– Peni’s best love with mine to the dear Nonno–
Your ever affecte
Ba
Robert will tell you of our pleasure in the sight of Hatty Hosmer as she passed.
Lytton had a six months leave of absence—the object being the study of the Italian language previous to examination–. But he remains very unwell–
Address, in RB’s hand: France / Mademoiselle Browning, / 151. Rue de Grenelle, / Faubourg St Germain, / Paris.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Lilly Library.
1. “To do nothing.”
2. Miss W. (see letter 4095, note 2).
3. “Ruffled.”
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