4199. EBB to Marianne Fell
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 25, 144–145.
Casa Guidi
June 30– [1858] [1]
My dear Mrs Fell, [2]
We are on the edge of the precipice of leaving Italy for the north, and I write this in the midst of the confusion of the “day before.” (Oh, I wish I were coming back instead!) After which parenthesis I must go on to thank you & the author of “Tom Brown” [3] for the good you mean us & the trouble you take in getting at us to offer it– But, dear Mrs Fell, you must further have the goodness to explain for us that we never write in periodicals, that it is not ‘in our way’, either because we are too busy or too idle .. perhaps both,—and that, as far as we can see at present, we can give only our good wishes to a work of the kind you mention, & of which, indeed, there is sorely need in England– [4]
No—our little Penini, though much grown .. almost too much grown for me who yearn back after his infancy .. is not up to the mark of reading Tom Brown yet .. that very clever book, with which, I must confide to you, I have not myself many sympathies. It is clever .. almost too clever; English, quite too English: “ancient Briton” as you say. I hate public schools, [5] & so, happily, does my husband,—& no presentation of that system can favorably impress us except with regard to the power of the writer.
Little Peni reads four languages and plays on the piano remarkably for his age .. he is nine you may remember .. & keeps his curls & his sweet face. Forgive me for saying so—but I have all my fortune in one coin, which makes me turn it over & over too fondly perhaps– You who are more brilliantly distributed, must have consideration, not severity. [6]
We go to the north—but only for three months, & only as far north as France– I have been less strong than usual this spring, & am advised to try Atlantic waves & winds– Therefore we shall remain no longer than a week in Paris & then travel westwards, .. where, we have not fixed yet—not to Dieppe, I think–
My husband unites with me in true regard to yourself & Mr Fell, & in wishes as affectionate that you may come back to Florence quite as fast as possible. We shall be here again in October.
So vexed I was, that once when Mr Fell passed like lightning by our door, I happened to be not well enough to see anyone,—my husband not being at home– May we not miss each other so for the future! My love to the children, & Peni’s love–
I remain always dear Mrs Fell <…> [7]
Thank you for those pleasant words about ‘Aurora’– The postscript is not the dishonoring place in a woman’s letter.
Address: Angleterre viá France / Mrs T.B. Fell / Vale View / Spacke [8] Bridge / Newton in Cartmel / Lancashire.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Huntington Library.
1. Year provided by postmark.
2. Marianne Fell (née Offor, 1821–1903); see letter 3671, note 2.
3. Tom Brown’s School Days (Cambridge, 1857) by Thomas Hughes (1822–96), social reformer and children’s writer. This popular, didactic novel was in its sixth edition by the date of this letter.
4. At this time, Hughes was involved with Alexander Macmillan, David Masson, and J.M. Ludlow in establishing Macmillan’s Magazine, the first issue of which appeared November 1859 with Masson as editor.
5. Private, all-male boarding schools, where most aristocratic and upper middle-class boys were educated. Tom Brown’s School Days is set in Rugby School, which the author attended, and shows the rough side of school life, including bullying. RB would later decide not to send Pen to a public school.
6. Mrs. Fell and her husband, John Barraclough Fell (1815–1902), had three children: Emily Jemima (b. 1845), George Noble (1849–1924), and Frederick (1850–1904).
7. The signature has been excised.
8. Sic, for Spark, though it is spelled “Sparke” in the Browning’s address book of this period (AB-4).
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