4763. EBB to Isa Blagden

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 28, 199.

[Florence]

[?17] [October 1860] [1]

Dearest Isa mine, you will be glad for me I know. I have the first really good news of my sister– She suffers much less, & is able to take wine & brandy without that consequence of agony which has hitherto been– Arabel says she continues depressed & unwilling to admit of cheerful views, but that the medical man considers the present symptoms “very favorable” and indicative of removal or diminution of the inflammatory tendency– Adds Arabel that I must’nt be lifted too high, because their hopes are too often followed by checks—but that the present appearances have cheered them all much.

I do thank God. I feel as if a mountain were taken from my heart. Dear, I know how glad you will be for me–

And yet, this must say besides that my poor little Pen is in bed with a very bad cold, & crying out for a doctor!!! Poor Pen soon loses courage about himself,—& he feels ‘sick’ through having taken medecine– No, it will be nothing—only he wont be able to go to you tomorrow, Dear, which is a worse misfortune for him than missing his lessons I fancy

<…> [2]

Dearest Isa, .. Robert reminds me that he goes out to the Matthews’s [3] tomorrow, thursday– Would friday do? or tonight? Robert will be vexed not to be at home.

Publication: B-IB, p. 371.

Manuscript: Eton College Library.

1. Conjectural dating based on EBB’s reference to Pen’s health. In letter 4765 RB declares, “Pen has had the worst cold & cough I remember to have plagued him & us. He is getting well, however.”

2. About one-third of a page is missing.

3. Arthur Matthews and his wife, Augusta (née Leighton); see letter 4503, note 4.

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