418. EBB to Hugh Stuart Boyd
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 307–308.
Hope End.
Thursday. May 19th [1831] [1]
My dearest friend,
You may like to hear from me now, as you will be expecting to hear that, through my aunt, we have been let into all the mysteries. What will you say when I tell you of our knowing no more on the subject than when I wrote to you last? She is, either from a promise to Papa or a judgment of her own, hermetically sealed,—and all I can extract is—“How can you suspect me of having any information? Why should you make yourself uneasy my dear, till your Papa tells you himself? Why should you not trust him with doing what is best? You may depend upon his doing it. If nobody has been to look at the house, how can it be going to be sold?—” and similar questions & answers which mean nothing but, “I wont be questioned”,—& “I cant answer”. It seems hard upon me that nothing of my childhood, except its tranquillity, should have passed away.
Minny learnt from her maid who is a degree more communicative, that Brighton has been thought of as a place of residence,—but that now everything is uncertain. So, you see, I was right in what I said. One thing however is satisfactorily certain—we are not going to Jamaica. The possibility, not the probability of it, haunted me, I scarcely know why; but when I mentioned it, my aunt said at once with openness & decision, “How can you be so foolish as to let such an idea once enter your mind! Such a family as this, to be taken to Jamaica! & when there is not & cannot be a necessity for it.”!
I thought of you yesterday, when you may have been moving to Ruby Cottage,—and I shall have particular pleasure in directing this letter there, tho’ directing myself there would be a pleasure still more particular. Miss Clarke has seen the Knowles’s since she saw us. She found them in a small dismal-looking house, regretting Malvern in chorus—poor Sir Charles the choryphæus, on account of his health.
I believe there is nothing more to tell you, & I acknowledge that I have told you nothing. Then why did I write at all? As I cant get people to answer my questions, I wont answer my own. My best love to Mrs Boyd & Annie.
Ever yours affectionately
E B Barrett.
One o’clock.
I am so happy I can hardly write. That is something quite new,—is it not? Promise me that you will not to any one person, say one word of what I am now going to tell you,—and now listen!!– My aunt has not until this morning, had any conversation with Papa on the subject. She has come up into my room to say, in consequence of one which has just taken place, that Papa has received a letter lately, & answered it, & that he is at present in the hope & expectation of retaining Hope End in his possession. I know you will be glad! Thank God for His great mercies!– She has begged us not to change our manner before Papa,—as in the case of his suspecting her of repeating to us his communications, they wd cease from that moment. So I must entreat you not to mention what I have told you. I could not help telling you. This is the 19th,—is it not? the day, I thought, wd have been made so sorrowful by your going away. And now, how happy it is!——
Thank Mrs Boyd for her note which I have this instant received. Is not Papa’s pleasure at your going to the Wells, explained now?–
Address, on integral page: H S Boyd Esqr / Ruby Cottage / Malvern Wells.
Publication: EBB-HSB, pp. 136–137.
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
1. Dated by the arrival of Miss Graham-Clarke at Hope End, and the Boyd’s return to Ruby Cottage.
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