5357. RB to William Wetmore Story, Emelyn Story & Edith Story
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 31, 34–35.
19. Warwick Crescent,
Upper Westbourne Terrace
Apr. 19. [1864] [1]
Dear Friends,
How long since I heard from you, and what a want that implies! Won’t you write, you, Edie, at least, or most? Isa Blagden has just told me strange things about that Bust. [2] I know that all possible to be done, would be done— but I thought this was not possible—if a miracle has been wrought whom will it delight like me?
I am alone here, for the first time—Pen sent off to visit his Uncle in Devonshire this morning: [3] he hurt his hand in rowing (his enduring passion) and it grew sorer than it ought—the Doctor said there was nothing in the matter of importance, but that change of air would set all right again at once and without physick—so I have sent him to ride, fish & otherwise enjoy himself: he will be so thoroughly cared for, that my company was useless: in a fortnight, I expect to have him back again, safe & sound: he is growing fast, the weather is critical, and I suppose he was a little out of sorts, though his red cheeks looked satisfactorily enough.
I have never heard from you since the reception of your book, [4] and much want to know whether all was done to your satisfaction—people like it much in the present state.
You have Coventry Patmore in Rome, that real & fine poet,—he asked me to dine with him one day, [5] and found me engaged: a few days after, I heard of his starting for Rome: had I imagined it was a good bye dinner I would have tried hard to go: I trust that his health is improved by what would seem a bad season for Rome—so all travellers join chorus: be assured nothing can have been more abominable than the weather here.
What are you going to do this summer? No chance of a visit to London,—yet I heard a rumour of it. I shall go to Italy,—Florence,—for the first or second week in September,—with a repugnance &, almost, fear—which there is no use in anticipating. Where shall you be at that time?
How I should like to know all about you three and the two boys! Also, any amount of gossip. I am never the better for whatever letters Ly W. [6] may get. She begins to tell me, and then somebody comes in, & my hope goes out.
I’ll tell you what: I disgusted you through letting the post-office man bully me about my last letter [7] —I brought it & said “Double stamps—for Rome”! “Why, double?” said he: “because double it is!” “No such thing!” “Weight it!” “There”! “Well, but though it does seem under weight, if there’s the least mistake …”—“What mistake can there be? If you like to throw away the stamps …” “No, certainly.” And now I wager they charged you quadruple postage, and you shrink from me. Fun apart, was not this so?
Ever yours affectionately
Robert Browning.
Address, on integral page: Mrs Story, / Palazzo Barberini, Rome. [8]
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Mark Samuels Lasner Collection.
1. Year provided by RB’s reference to Pen’s visit to his Uncle Henry.
2. Isa was in Rome and had seen Story’s bust of EBB in clay (see SD2695).
6. Lady William Russell.
8. This letter was enclosed in RB’s letter to Isa of the same date (not extant); see the beginning of letter 5367.
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