4994. RB to Isa Blagden
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 30, 1.
[1 Chichester Road]
[December 1861] [1]
Dearest Isa,
I was sallying out with my proofs [2] in one hand & your papers in the other, meaning to call on you after going to the Post: I was not in time, after all my pains, for this—& find now I am not to see you for two days more! My own disappointment is nothing, if you are not seriously unwell: you must either spare yourself or these horrible pains in the side will punish you, (& me, for nothing!)– I called yesterday,—& missed you: all the afternoon I was out,—doing some important business very satisfactorily. In the evening I had just one minute for you, at seven, but saw no lights & conjectured you were away. With respect to your enclosure, here it is, & whether it, with its companion remains here or there, six weeks or six years longer, you know, dearest friend is absolutely the same to me: I do think you will remember this, however, should there be the least occasion,—and it is only on this account that I don’t send back what you direct to me. What are such things between us! I have not seen what you allude to—so eaten up to the bone am I with occupation just now: I will see, presently.
I wanted to say how delighted Miss Barrett was with Miss Smith’s method & procedure. [3] She meant to go & try to get you to take tea with her to-day.
Ever yours affectionately
R Browning—
Publication: DI, pp. 93–94 (as [January 1862]).
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. Approximate dating based on RB’s reference to “Miss Smith.” Apparently, she had recently begun giving drawing lessons to Arabella’s niece, Mary Altham, who stayed with her aunt from September to Christmas Eve 1861 and 6 January to 22 February 1862.
2. Of EBB’s Last Poems (1862).
3. Jane Browning Smith (1805–95), daughter of William Browning Smith (1771–1852) and his wife, Ann Evans (née Norton, 1774–1847), gave drawing and watercolor lessons at her residence, 1 Montpelier Villas, Chichester Road, where her friend Isa Blagden stayed for three months beginning in November 1861. An advertisement in The Athenæum of 2 August 1862 reads: “Drawing from rustic or classical models and water-colour,—Miss Browning Smith will resume her quarterly courses of instruction to Classes and Schools after the Midsummer Vacation. Private Lessons as usual” (no. 1814, p. 129). By the next month, Pen had become one of her students (see letter 5019).
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