5692. RB to Alicia Bayne
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 32, 44.
19. Warwick Crescent,
Upper Westbourne Terrace W.
Feb. 2. ’66.
Dear Mrs Bayne,
I make haste to say that the delay in thanking you for your very kind note was caused by a misdirection of it from the Club [1] to a namesake of mine: [2] I only get it this moment.
Although I had accepted another engagement, I consider this to be, under all circumstances, rather a summons than a mere invitation: I was delighted to be one of your guests on the same festal day [3] the year before last,—and, last year, was only disappointed of the same gratification thro’ the illness of my son. [4] I have therefore written to excuse myself, and shall gladly be present on this occasion. I remember all that is to be remembered, having been lessoned before.
I am glad to hear that you and your daughter [5] have escaped the vile weather which is heavy upon all less happily situated.
Very sincerely & obligedly yours
Robert Browning.
Address: Mrs Bayne, / Gledlion Hall, / Torquay.
Publication: NL, p. 170.
Manuscript: Yale University.
1. i.e., the Athenæum Club.
2. Another Robert Browning (see the penultimate paragraph in letter 5712).
4. RB is confusing an engagement with Mary Ford (see letter 5535), from which he excused himself because of Pen’s measles (see letter 5544).
5. Isabella Bayne (1842–1910); see letter 4113, note 8.
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