4281. EBB to Sophia Eckley

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 25, 294.

[Rome]

Friday. [26 November 1858] [1]

So vexed I am, my dearest dear Sophie, to find the touch of your dress on our threshold .. & no Sophie!– Robert took me with him this morning to the studio of our friend Mr Page in the via Babuino, & I was very happy in having seen his works & heard him talk in his lofty spiritual way, till on coming back I found I had paid for it by losing you.

Dear, ask dear Mr Eckley to receive from his two friends this photograph of Robert. I like to think of it in his hands, as he cared to have it—and Robert presently shall give me another.

Pen pines for Do, so I send him with Annunciata,—& the children can walk together, if Sophie pleases– Your ever loving

Ba.

Did you thank Miss Eckley [2] for me for all her goodness about the apartments?——and will you offer our true regards to Mrs Tuckerman–

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Berg Collection.

1. Date provided by EBB’s reference to the “photograph of Robert”; see letter 4273, note 11.

2. Frances Augusta Eckley (1823–82); see letter 4092, note 9.

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