5133. RB to Richard Monckton Milnes

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 30, 152.

[London]

Nov. 18. ’62.

My dear Milnes,

How very kind you are, and how unlucky, or, if you like, ill-conditioned am I! The three months’ holidays are over, I represent stern duty in this establishment, the lessons are begun, and there’s no leaving the post! You know how I should have enjoyed myself otherwise. Pray say this for me to Mrs. Milnes, and, on the boy’s part, to your young ladies. See how well he looks in a photograph made the other day, [1] only crossish, which he isn’t.

Ever yours most truly

Robert Browning.

Landor is unhappily vivacious just now,—tries to plague me and succeeds somewhat.

Publication: NL, pp. 147–148.

Manuscript: Trinity College, Cambridge.

1. One of the four photographs taken in Paris. They are reproduced facing p. 144.

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