4225. EBB to Arabella Moulton-Barrett
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 25, 198–200.
Maison Versigny
2. rue de Perrey
Le Havre
Sunday. [Postmark: 8 August 1858]
Beloved Arabel, I thanked God to have your letter– Good kind Annunziata came rushing with it down to the edge of the sea where I was sitting, she without a bonnet, & only thinking of the relief she would bring me. For, dearest, in spite of Robert, I was more anxious than I had even told you, .. & for a reason. I did not tell you for fear of communicating my alarm to yourself– On those days when, as you said, you were expecting Storm’s steamer, there was a horrible storm here which seemed blowing at my heart for two nights, & left me shaking for nervousness afterwards– All very foolish, as it turned out– Among the evils of life, the quantities of unreal ones made by ourselves have their due weight, & are more numerous than the others– The Mahometans are right in crying out at intervals, God is good [1] —we should remind ourselves of it (though it seems so self[-]evident & simple) a little oftener than we do–
Dearest, I condole with you & my poor beloved Henrietta on this vexation of the hooping cough siezing its victims just now. [2] Still, it’s a good time of year, and the change of air in contemplation is the best remedy. Certainly, if they dont leave Delamere Terrace, you must leave them in possession, Arabel .. because time passes, we have been in France already a month & more, and I ought to have the little, little slice of the plumbcake which, at most now, I can have– I rushed into the presence of Madame de Versigny this morning to ascertain what rooms I could get for you– She has a small apartment for which she asks a great sum, I think—but here is the season,—& the Emperor is to arrive at the Bathing hotel (Hotel Frascati) [3] a few yards off, at the end of the month, .. and his uncle prince Jerome is there already, .. & prices rise in proportion– I find on the first floor a small salon, shabbily furnished, but with a sofa .. & two windows not facing the sea—separated by a ‘cabinet de toilette’ [4] from a bedroom with two beds .. exactly what you want– Up stairs a bedroom for your maid—on the ground floor a sort of dining-room in which Mrs Crispin [5] can sit, & an intermediate room opening into a kitchen—all nice enough—only they ask two hundred francs a month, & that is much I think– Two pounds a week. There is another bedroom ready for George, but for that, they want two francs a day more. Consider, & let me know by return of post if you do not scout it altogether– Persuade George not to go to the hotel– I only wish we could take you in, but it would not be possible– I shall expect you to dine with us everyday unless when you have quarrelled with me on theology generally & the spirits particularly,—for then of course you’ll prefer excommunicating me & taking your cutlet alone. I made an effort to get the rooms without the kitchen—but then it was an ‘appartement manqué,’ [6] & the two hundred francs were demanded all the same. Also the kitchen & little diningroom would be useful in many ways to you– Observe—though Robert’s father & sister have a separate apartment, separate sittingrooms &c &c, .. they are in reality visitors to Robert– We have our separate breakfast & never see them except by accident before four oclock, but then we meet at dinner, & after, at tea—& in fact, the whole ménáge is ours.– But I have my own salon, .. I could’nt live otherwise—& so there’ll be plenty of room & silence for our secrets, darling .. & see if I wont pet you & love you, & be glad to get you. Only dont, doubt about returning to Paris with me– You’ll break my heart if you doubt about that–
Dear, by some extraordinary awkwardness I seem to give you an impression of being ill when I mean to tell you I’m well– I assure you there’s nothing wrong with me now, & you’ll think I’m looking splendidly, what with my hoop & the joy of having you, darling– The only difference is that I have’nt got up my walking perfectly yet—though I improve immensely, & Robert says I could do more, if I chose– Which is quite true– But I’m afraid of tiring myself, because it might throw me back again. Now consider this– I am well. So dont think of me as an invalid any more at all. In fact I announced to Annunziata yesterday that I meant to take no more steel .. except in my petticoats–
Peni is delighted at the idea of having you & George, & Emma spoils nothing– I am not afraid of the hooping-cough for Pen. Certainly he had it in Paris—& there have been opportunities of catching the complaint since, which he has resisted satisfactorily– Still, you are wise & kind in taking Emma out of danger—& thank you for him & for me––to say nothing of poor Emma herself. [7]
Pen pays fifteen sous for his sea-bathing, because he has a “guide”—otherwise it would be five sous only– The warm sea-baths are a franc each– Very cheap. Robert bathes at five sous,—tell George– They bathe every day—to say nothing of Pen’s taking off shoes & socks, & running into the sea with his ship, in the afternoons.
May God bless all of you—the darling children & all– Write to me by return post dearest dearest Arabel– This is thrown off in haste–
Your own loving Ba–
Address: Angleterre– / Miss Barrett / 7. Delamere Terrace / Harrow Road / London.
Publication: EBB-AB, II, 364–366.
Manuscript: Berg Collection.
1. Cf. “Allahu Akbar” (“God is greater”); or “Allahu kabir” (“God is great”).
2. Surtees recorded on 26 July: “The children all attacked with the hooping cough” (Surtees, 26 July 1858). On 13 August he noted: “Arabel left for Havre, with Geo. to join Ba. and her husband—kindly leaving us the use of her house” (see SD2194).
3. Murray’s describes the Frascati as “excellent, outside the walls, on the seashore, far from the Rly., with a good table d’hôte, reading-room, and neat and cheap warm-baths” (A Handbook for Travellers in France, 1858, p. 62).
4. “Dressing room.”
6. “Unsuccessful apartment.”
7. Emma Barrett did not travel to Le Havre with Arabella as previously planned. Evidently, she stayed behind with the Cooks and went with them to Bryngwyn in early September (see Surtees, 4 September 1858).
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