4834. RB to Frances Davenport Perkins

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 28, 335–336.

[Rome]

Thursday [?21 February 1861] [1]

Dear Mrs Perkins

I shall be only too happy to dine with you on Saturday or any other day you care to have me. I really had reasons which seems sufficient for depriving myself of much pleasure in some cases—but your kindness removes them altogether so far as you are concerned.

With true regards to all: gratefully yours ever

Robert Browning

We are very sorry to hear that Mrs Bruen has been unwell—and my wife hopes that her own losses thereby will be made good to her on the earliest occasion.

I send the new photographs about which Miss Bruen was kind enough to talk the other morning.

Address: Mrs Perkins, / Casa Dies. [2]

Source: Facsimile in The Month at Goodspeed’s Book Shop, December 1936, p. 149.

1. Conjectural dating suggested by RB’s mention of “the new photographs,” presumably those by Alessandri, made at the beginning of February (see letter 4825, note 4). The Perkinses and Mrs. Bruen were in Rome during this period at Casa Dies, Via Gregoriana.

2. Envelope at Wellesley College.

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