4364. EBB to Sophia Eckley
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 26, 90–91.
[Rome]
[19 March 1859] [1]
Darling Sophie, little did I think (though Robert told me from Mr Eckley that you had suffered much from headache in the night) how unwell you really were. On the contrary I was relying on seeing you, dear, as usual, & had made up the fire to warm your dear feet—in vain now– The worst is that I permitted Peni to take my note to Doady at the close of his walk, and to stay for … an hour, did I say? Now if I should have just sent him—to make a noise when you needed quiet .. just to hurt you!– How unhappy for me, this is—I who would do anything for you, to be done by hand & heart, .. I simply sit here, & send Pen like a thunderbolt on you, .. Pen with a new headache perhaps in his right hand–! Oh– I do hope, I do hope Mrs Tuckerman or Miss Eckley may drive him back to me, & not suffer him to do you any harm–
And how did the pain come, dearest Sophie? was it by the shock and the grief rentré, [2] from that sad news yesterday?– [3] Perhaps– You are so impressionable,—having at the same time deep feelings, which the easibly [sic] moved have not always. May God love you, dear,—and may the spirits whom His love has made tender, touch you with their softest hands–
Dont come tomorrow unless you feel refreshed and strong– Keep quiet, dear dear Sophie, and lie on the sofa even when you get up, and keep the light out with curtains,—and remember always that my thought is somewhere near you, but treading on tiptoe and praying for you low–
In truest love your
Ba—
And Doady—. What Muse of the heart inspired the child?—or why do I ask? And do tell him how much I think his writing improved. Dear child!——
I have been hard at work at proofs today, & have sent away my work in time, I am happy to say.
No, thank you. I dont want any more of Aurora Leigh for the next century–
May God bless you, dearest Sophie–
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Berg Collection.
1. Date provided by EBB’s statement: “I have been hard at work at proofs today, & have sent away my work in time.” A list of corrections for the fourth edition of Aurora Leigh was posted on 19 March (see letter 4362).
2. “Suppressed.”
3. Perhaps news of Mrs. Eckley’s half-sister, Hannah Parkman Mason (née Tuckerman, 1805–59), who died of consumption in June. See letter 4443, where EBB writes that the sister was “taken not from a clear healthy life of uninterrupted growth, but from a broken twilight unequal life.”
___________________
