5629. RB to Edith Story
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 31, 276.
19 Warwick Crescent,
Upper Westbourne Terrace. W.
July 26. ’65.
Dearest Edie,
If I, was “perverse”, I am now paid for my perversity—since I find that I shall have to leave London without seeing you, after all the pleasant things that were to have been. Letters from Paris induce me to hasten our departure, and next Saturday,—the day I meant to ask leave to pass at Mount Felix,—will break on us in London & set on us in Paris—(poetically expressed.) Pen’s vexation is what it should be: he went to the Academy last saturday hoping to meet you there—but to no purpose. Perhaps you will still be at Mount Felix in October, when we return—in the very beginning of it,—if so—but where is the use of proposing pleasant things,—they never come to good now—with me, at least.
Thank Mrs Sturgis exceedingly for me: “perverse,” indeed, because, being only able to excuse myself from other people’s invitations by saying– “I never accept such”,—and finding life bearable in consequence,—I don’t give way to the temptation the first time that it would be delightful so to do! —Then, Regattas [1] —what has a grey owl like me to do with Regattas & the lovers of the same? No, No! the dark for me!
I want to tell you that the Bust [2] arrived yesterday: I have hardly looked steadily enough at it yet: there are some things admirably reproduced there—more, by far than I thought possible—nobody else could have saved them, or, made so beautiful a thing. Tell your Papa so, when you write.
Ever affectionately yours
Robert Browning
We go to Ste Marie, near Pornic, as we did two years ago & the year before—to the Mayor’s house, just as before– Willie Bracken & his mother go also,—though we don’t travel together.
Publication: BAF, pp. 154–155.
Manuscript: Yale University.
1. RB probably refers to the Thames National Regatta, held on 10 August 1865 between Hammersmith Bridge and the Putney Aqueduct. Two other regattas took place in the first two weeks of August: the Royal Yacht Squadron Regatta, the course being around the Isle of Wight, and the Royal Victoria Yacht Club Regatta, its course consisting of a stretch of the Solent, off Ryde.
2. Of EBB; see letter 5298, note 4.
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