415. EBB to Hugh Stuart Boyd
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 303.
[Hope End]
Thursday night. [12 May 1831] [1]
My dearest friend,
Arabel has just been saying that you will certainly think me mad for writing so many letters. I write now merely to let you know of Papa having written today to Mr Curzon. The letter has not gone; and it is possible that Mr Curzon may not be at home tomorrow in time to send you its contents by the post. Therefore my intelligence may reach you before it, & help to keep your patience alive a little while longer.
After having sent away my letter to you today, I was half sorry for having done so. Have you ever observed this in me—that tho’ I can restrain myself & mask myself as well as anybody else, in conversation, yet as soon as I begin to write,—out everything comes, foolish or otherwise, just as it enters my head?—— That is the effect of writing so much, & of encouraging myself in writing naturally. You will suggest another word instead of the last—& you are welcome to do so, if you will promise to forgive any word that may have happened to annoy you (for I dont remember what was written) in my last letter. I would not willingly annoy you ever—much less now!
Papa’s spirits have been very bad for the last two days,—& nothing else has a brighter aspect—except my imagination, which has trimmed its lamp since the news about the letter to Mr Curzon. And this news arrived so late as five o’clock. Well! I wont teaze you any more now, this being the third epoch of your sufferings today, including Arabel’s parabolas.
Ever affectionately yours
E B Barrett.
Tell Annie with my love, that she shall have her property back again. Arabel desires me to remind you about sending the verses for her album.
Twelve o’clock.
As Lane is going to Worcester tomorrow morning, to vote for the Reform Candidates, he shall leave this in his way.
Publication: EBB-HSB, pp. 132–133.
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. Dated from the mention of the elections in Worcester. They were held from 6 to 13 May, and 12 May was the only Thursday during this period.
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