4754. EBB to Henrietta Cook
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 28, 180–181.
[Siena]
[2 October 1860] [1]
My precious Henrietta, .. it’s the word that always comes,——
I thank you more than I can say for your gift– It is beautiful– I feel as if I had you all in my arms while I look at it .. yes, you as well as them– Altham is particularly improved—a sweet, intelligent, good little face—then, that lovely Mary with her ringlets—(‘golden’ says Arabel)—and my Baby, (in my day) my Edward now, who is not done justice to, Arabel maintains– Then he must be pretty indeed.
Only yesterday Penini had given to him one of the fashionable photograph-albums from Paris with frames for the cards & silver claspes;—& he has in it ‘papa’ & ‘mama’ already, of course,—& some other friends,—and I have trusted to him (not given, but trusted) this dear photograph of his cousins, [2] to keep in his collection with those nearest his affection. It wont go farther from me than the table—& Peni has a little right too– As to the words on it, they are mine .. & deep in my heart– May God love you, sweetest .. love you as the most loving of us cannot pretend to do. When we have said our best, you are still suffering– But it is not so with Him–
I thank you dear, and I thank your dearest Surtees who shares in your gift as in all else. Our Arabel’s letter was a great blessing to me this morning– Robert brought it in to me with a smile, (that I might not be frightened) before I was up this morning– The letters are brought from Siena about eight,—& since I worked myself up so with nervous fears, he has opened mine just to see for me that all went pretty well– He always prophesies that you will be as strong as you ever were—& you will think me foolish, but really (where he is’nt prejudiced) he has a sort of mesmeric way of looking into events, which has a certain weight with me. Now you will assuredly think me foolish.
Tell Altham that Penini is in the greatest admiration of the gaiters, & evidently does not mean to leave me a moment’s peace till he gets something like them. It is a lovely group—very, very pretty.
Robert thanks you both with his truest love & mine– Dearest, never think of writing to me– It is not good for you to write, & you must not think of it– This word you have written, is painfully dear–
May God bless you, keep you, love you prays your
Ba–
Address, on integral page: Mrs Surtees Cook.
Docket, in the hand of Surtees Cook: Written at Florence 1860.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: In private collection.
1. This letter accompanied letter 4753.
2. EBB’s copy of this photograph is not extant. However, a photograph that remained in the Cook (later Altham) family, in which the children appear to be the appropriate ages (Altham, 9; Mary, 8; and Edward, 4), may be a copy of the one Henrietta sent. This photograph is reproduced facing p. 177.
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