4242. EBB & RB to Joseph Milsand

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 25, 233.

[In RB’s hand]

Le Hâvre,

Sept. 15. ’58.

My dear Milsand,

I was very vexed to find that Sarianna had written to you without giving me an opportunity of saying a word in reply to your note: after that letter of hers, there was an uncertainty about finding you. How good you are to take the will for the deed, and understand our feeling to you! For me, your visit was entirely and unqualifiedly delightful & precious– I believe you must feel that. In other respects, there was not a little of what Carlyle calls “obstruction”—painful associations & remembrances—and then, I am always too irritable, and impatient: at the end, everything clears up and rights itself—if one could only be quiet in the mean time! However, all this is of very little importance: we shall see each other again and again, I trust, under more favorable circumstances—but I can never, I think, value more than now the relation in which you allow me to stand to you. Well, we leave this place for Paris on the 20th (Monday)—Sarianna goes before us to find a lodging—which we shall take for a fortnight at least. I think my wife’s health is much better within these last few weeks: Peni continues all we could wish. I sympathise with you heartily in the amended state of your Mother—that fall, however, might have been a serious matter. Dear Milsand—do not—for our sakes, do not—put aside one least of your duties at Dijon in order to return to Paris: otherwise to see you would be a joy indeed. My wife’s true love goes to you with mine.

Yours affecy

R Browning.

[Continued by EBB]

Robert’s letter must not go without a line from me to thank dear M. Milsand for the part I had in the general joy of receiving our dear friend. Send us good news of your mother, & let us see you in Paris—if the gain to us should not be too much loss to you.

May God bless you & yours.

EBB.

Address, in RB’s hand: M. Milsand.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Joseph Milsand Archive.

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