4319. EBB to Sophia Eckley
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 26, 29–30.
[Rome]
[ca. 10 January 1859] [1]
My dearest Sophie, your dear note comes & finds me manacled by visitors—and Pietro [2] would not, rather could not wait– No wonder. I write this that if he should come back while we dine, just a word, a God bless you dear, should be ready– I am so glad dear Do is better—though he must take care, & not air even his thoughts out of doors while the weather is so bitter– It is bitter, is’nt it?—& almost I am not sorry that you should have not braved it in coming here today. Also I have had a stream of people——
Among them … Miss Heaton came—she & Miss Haworth having arrived last night,—poor FH laid up of course with headache. They came by sea, & suffered terribly in the nerves from the wind & roughness.
As for the secret which I am not to know, think of the temptation to a daughter of Eve– Why you dont seem to feel for the natural disprezzo [3] of my curiosity—not you, Sophie.!!
Pen’s best love to his Do, & he wishes he could do something for him, but “unfortunately” he cant– Pen seems quite convalescent himself, but I wont let him go out while this wind blows, in spite of his poor pleading pale cheeks–
love your loving Ba–
Address, on integral page: Madame Eckley.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Berg Collection.
1. Approximate dating based on EBB’s statement that Miss Heaton and Miss Haworth “arrived last night.” At the time of letter 4315, they had not yet arrived in Rome, but by letter 4320 they had.
2. Apparently, the Eckleys’ manservant.
3. “Defiance.”
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