4323. EBB to Sophia Eckley
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 26, 36–37.
Bocca di Leone.
Wednesday. [?19 January 1859] [1]
Dearest Sophie, a north wind and no Sophie (that’s north east) [2] —but she will come in the evening (and that is south again[)].
No, I do not remember a “tuesday.” —Was it on tuesday that M Ossoli came back & saw the real last of us, I wonder? was that tuesday?– I must ask Robert, & ascertain if he remembers. She took leave of us once, & we thought she had gone—& then she appeared again suddenly like the ghost of herself because of something wrong about the ship at Leghorn—& there was a certain evening … But was it tuesday? I forget. When I think of her it is as she sate that evening, in Robert’s armchair, with her baby on her lap, & her husband standing by. The vision of them used to haunt me as I saw them so. But was it tuesday?– Still I ask. [3]
I am very sorry that your darling Doady should suffer still from that cold– Peni is out. He was writing to Doad before I was up this morning–
May God bless you my Sophie, till (& after) you shall bring me my gladness of this evening.
Your loving Ba–
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Berg Collection.
1. Conjectural dating suggested by EBB’s reference to Doady’s cold (his poor health is mentioned in letter 4319) and to Pen’s being “out.” Because of his cough, EBB kept him inside the first two weeks of January.
2. The Eckleys were staying at Palazzo Sarazani, 57 Porta Pinciana, situated east northeast of the Brownings’ apartment at 43 Via Bocca di Leone.
3. Margaret Ossoli (née Fuller, 1810–50) and her family paid a visit to the Brownings on 15 May 1850, a Wednesday, two days prior to their departure for America (see letter 2874, note 1).
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