5614. RB to Euphemia Millais

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 31, 266.

19 Warwick Crescent,

Upper Westbourne Terrace W

June 26. ’65.

My dear Mrs Millais, [1]

I beg your pardon sincerely, & with real concern for my stupidity. When I got your invitation I ran my eye along the memorandums on the mantel piece, and saw nothing to prevent my accepting it—as I gladly did in the note sent last night—& which was no sooner sent than the fact occurred to me that I was particularly engaged here, at home, on the 30th a day Professor Jowett pleased to fix last week for coming to see my son & myself.

You lose nothing, I very well know. While I happen to have heard (from Joachim last night) what company I shall lose beside your own.

Pray excuse me to your Husband,—and believe me, dear Mrs Millais.

Yours most faithfully

Robert Browning

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.

1. Euphemia (“Effie”) Chalmers Millais (née Gray, formerly Ruskin, 1828–97); see vol. 23, p. 233.

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