4265. EBB to Euphrasia Fanny Haworth
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 25, 265–266.
Casa Guidi–
Saturday. [30 October 1858] [1]
You do not come, dearest Fanny, though I am here waiting, and I begin to be uneasy about you, considering the sad account you sent me of poor Trautchen, with an unsatisfactory word too, at the end, about yourself. Do, at least, write, do– We have been here since Tuesday, & here is saturday, & every morning there has been an anxious looking-forward for you– Oh, what a sad, sad business about Trautchen—I am so sorry– Is not the climate a little guilty, & would it not be wise to send her home when she can move, with the comfort of a promise to receive her back after the winter? That would be good for her, and then you would be free for Rome, yourself–
Miss Heaton wrote to me in Paris to propose travelling with us which Robert lacked chivalry to accede to—and in fact our ways of journeying are too uncertain to admit of arrangements with anyone beyond our circle– For instance we took nine days to get here from Paris,—spending only one day at Chambery for the sake of Les Charmettes & Rousseau. Robert played the ‘Dream’ [2] on the old harpsichord, the keys of which rattled in a ghastly way, as if it were the bones of him who once so ‘dreamed’– Then there was the old watch hung up, without a tick in it–– At St Jean de Maurienne we got into difficulties with diligences, & submitted to being thrown out for the night at Lanslebourg, I more dead than alive, & indeed I suffered much in passing the mountain next morning– Then again on the sea, we had a burrasca, [3] & the captain had half a mind when half way to Leghorn to turn back to Genoa– Passengers much frightened, including me .. a little! A wretched Neapolitan boat, with a machine “inclined to go to the devil every time the wind went anywhere,” as I heard a French gentleman on board say afterwards. Altogether we were so done up after eighteen hours of it, that we staid at Leghorn instead of going on straight to Florence– Still, now I seem to have got over fatigue & the rest—& we keep our faces turned undeviatingly to Rome– Mdme du Quair[e] having carefully apprized M. Mignaty that we left Paris on the thirteenth, our friends here seem to have made up their minds that we had perished by land or water, and Annunciatia’s poor sister had passed three days in tears—for instance–
Now, dearest Fanny, let me confess to you– I have not brought the bonnet– A bonnet is a personal matter, & I would not let anyone choose one for me. Still, as you had more faith in man, (or woman[)], I would have risked even displeasing you, only Robert would not let me. He said it was absurd .. I “did not know your size”– I “could not know your taste”—in fact he would not let me. Perhaps after all, it is better. You shall see mine which is the last novelty, & I will tell you the results of having investigated the bonnet-question generally– I was told at a fashionable shop that hats might be worn out of one’s teens—but in Paris, let me hasten to add, you dont see hats walking about except on the heads of small girls– In Rome it may be otherwise, as at the seaside it was. Bonnets are a great deal larger—but you shall see–
Oh—so glad I am to be back—so glad—so glad–
And so happy I shall be to see you, dearest Fanny, whom, till now, I have not thanked for the pretty, pretty sketch– [4] I recognized the persons at a glance,—you threw onto them so much character–
Now write to me at least—but come, if you can– We dine generally about three, if you would use us– Remember me kindly to Mdme Tassinari, & give my love to Alice, whom Peni will like to see again– He is very sorry about his poor friend Trautchen. Robert’s best love with his, & that of your
ever most affectionate
EBB—
Miss Cushman spent yesterday evening with us, & goes on to Rome today–
Publication: LEBB, II, 292–294 (in part).
Manuscript: Fitzwilliam Museum.
1. Dated by EBB’s reference to the Brownings’ arrival in Florence the previous Tuesday, 26 October 1858.
3. “Storm.”
4. Unidentified.
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