413. EBB to Hugh Stuart Boyd
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 299–301.
[Hope End]
Wednesday. half past two. [11 May 1831] [1]
My dearest friend,
I did not mean to write at all today, much less so late,—but I feel clearly now that I shall sleep the better tonight for having written. Do let me hear the result of the visit to cheltenham [2] —& pray do not take any decisive step after you have received Mr Curzon’s reply, without my knowing something about it. Papa’s manner in speaking of you last night proved to a certainty that he was not displeased by your application. Yesterday he put his own men into the Hope End part of the hop-field, which some people think a good sign,—tho’ others, merely, that he has decided upon appropriating to himself the present years crops which he has had a right from the beginning to do. But this morning he sent for 32 gallons of beer, for somebody (he said to the messenger) who was coming to stay here & could not drink cider. Who can the somebody be? Miss Clarke, or Mrs Hedley, or you?
I cannot help thinking that something is doing for the release of this estate, & that we shall not go after all. But if you go, what is my pleasure in staying, reduced to? Is it not possible for you to stay? I know you wish it to be possible,—and Dr Garlick’s [3] opinion must quite relieve Mrs Boyd’s mind with respect to Annie– If you would try the Wells for one year—May Place, or Ruby Cottage as you seemed to prefer it! When Lady Margaret Cocks returns, she will no longer be obliged to visit or to forbear visiting as another person wishes: she will be much more her own mistress in this respect, and I will do my very best to bring her to see you. And this would be making an opening for Mrs Boyd & Annie into quite another kind of society. Mrs Berrington too, is sure to call upon them—& thro’ her, Mrs Hornyold, [4] —and thus they will have in different ways more agreable people than the Malvern people to associate with. Besides, Annie could manage her garden & ride her poney much more happily & independently than she could do, in the midst of, or at least in the neighbourhood of those crowded houses, where nothing can be at ease, but depravity. And if Hope End is inhabited as it now is, will it not always be open to her whenever the other side of the hill begins to tire her? And whenever she & Mrs Boyd like to be tired of both sides of the hill, then, you know, the same Hope End is open to you—not once or twice but always!——
Now cannot you talk of & manage this—or at any rate try it for one year more? Have you not been very well at Malvern? Is it not possible that a change to a less bracing air may have an injurious influence on your nerves? Did you ever hear of the extraordinary longevity for which people who have lived long at Malvern, are celebrated?– And (for a final question) are not such places as Bath & Cheltenham generally considered little calculated for the permanent good of girls of Annie’s age. I wish you could hear all I have heard of both places, from sensible women & men.
I have said nothing of myself!—it is vain to say anything. I am very very unhappy at the idea of your going away—but you all know this as well as I do. Pray send to Mathon, as soon as ever you hear,—and beg Eliza not to lose a moment in sending to me.
May god Bless you! In the greatest hurry, believe me
Your affectionate
E B Barrett.
Address, on integral page: H. S. Boyd Esqr / Woodland Lodge / Great Malvern.
Publication: EBB-HSB, pp. 129–130.
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. Dated by the request for Boyd to send EBB a message through Eliza Cliffe. It arrived the following Saturday, 14 May (see letter 416).
2. Whence Mrs. Boyd had come, after looking there for suitable houses.
3. William Bennett Garlike (1756?–1841), of Melton House, Gt. Malvern.
4. The wife of Thomas Hornyhold, of Firs House.
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