4233. EBB to Elizabeth Jane Hedley
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 25, 213–214.
Le Hâvre– Maison Versigny
2. rue de Perrey–
August 26– [1858] [1]
My dearest Ibbit,
Though I am not going to England this year, I cant be left out of the number of those who love you enough to be very happy in your happiness [2] & who press in to tell you so. Among the brighter parts of the talks I have had with my dear Arabel, your name has often been spoken, & I have heard gladly from her of your near prospect– May God bless you in it, bless you & yours, and give you without any drawback His best gift in the world, a united love, & the power of living in another– I get out of Arabel all the bits I can about you & about him, and about the satisfaction of your beloved mother in both of you—it’s all so pleasant– And then I make a dream of you and I see you as I used to do when you were only a lovely child with your curls hanging round you, a little like my own child who is sitting there .. and it seems strange & happy too that, even on this earth, there should be a certain change to us “from glory to glory” [3] .. from one phase of love to another, till the spiritual world catches us up & develops us farther, farther– May you never let fall there, dearest Ibbit, the hand now clasped in yours– May your marriage be for now & then, a true spiritual marriage, and not a sham or for this life only– May I send my regards to Mr Eaton? You know Ibbit, that though we have not seen much of one another since you grew up, I always loved you, not only for your sake but for your mother’s– Give her my tender love & say so–
When you are married perhaps you will come on the continent, & so we shall meet at Florence or Rome: we talk of going to Rome next winter, and towards the end of October we shall certainly be in Florence– Meantime it has been a most soothing contentment to me, as you may suppose, to see my much loved Arabel, and to see her looking so well & seeming so cheerful. I am afraid I have drawn her to a rather disagreeable place at this Havre,—but she generously makes the best of it, bearing with its faults & mine. In less than a month we are to remove to Paris, & then there will be more amusing sights for her. Sometimes I wonder how we came here– It was scarcely consciously, in a fit of defense from finding no room for our feet at Etretat, when we were too large a party for much wandering about, my husband’s father & sister having come from Paris with us to see as much as possible of us while we remained in the north. Then we wanted the sea—& the sea we have here—and I have recovered my strength to a considerable degree, which was an advantage we came to seek. George is here—and Harry had the kindness to bring his new wife to see me– Gentle, affectionate, & sensible she appears to be—I like her much. They were here a week & are gone. George talks too of going on a wandering expedition to Caen & elsewhere next week, but he will return I hope. Henrietta is lost to me this summer, alas!—— I must lay her up for the future like a bright winter-apple that will keep.
Ibbit, I saw a friend of yours in Paris, who is also a friend of ours—Mr Gurney– We had a great deal of interesting talk about churches & things thereto appertaining, .. and I think he said, in ending, that my heart was better taught than my head– With which same heart I have come to write this letter—therefore accept it kindly. My love to all of you, & my loving hope that dearest uncle Hedley may be stronger than I have lately heard of his being– My husband’s cordial regards & warm wishes–
Your most affectionate
Ba.
Arabel tries to inveigle Penini to go & live with her. “No,” says he, “I cant leave Mama. I’ll be Mama’s boy, and your friend.”
Address: Angleterre. / Miss Hedley / Sidbrook / near Taunton / Somersetshire.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: University of Iowa.
1. Year provided by postmark.
2. Upon her forthcoming marriage to Charles Ormston Eaton. It took place at West Monckton, Taunton, on 9 September 1858.
3. II Corinthians 3:18.
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