4361. EBB to Sophia Eckley

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 26, 89.

[Rome]

[?18 March 1859] [1]

So grieved I am, dearest Sophie, that you are not well– To know that, is even worse than not to see you– As for me, I have nothing worse than a headache & a no-Sophie—but I am pressed on by business, proofs and the rest, & mean to work hard to get clear ground for tomorrow– Repose, you!

Oh yes. I understood you, your singleness of love .. as always I do– May God bless you & keep you & love you .. even better than you know how to love– Your Ba——

Then have I not a photograph for you? But I wont send it because of the rain–

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Berg Collection.

1. Conjectural dating based on EBB’s reference to proofs. Proofs for Aurora Leigh arrived from Chapman and Hall on 16 March 1859, and a list of corrections was returned on 19 March (see letter 4362). See also Reconstruction, D57.

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