SD1586. Ellen Twisleton to Dwight Family
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 18, 368 (in part).
Banbury
Wednesday. July 21st [–27] 1852
Here we are, dearest sisters, at Banbury Cross, but much to my disappointment, we didn’t come on “a cock horse” …
Friday, after I sealed my letters, I had first a visit from Geo. Scharf … . Then Mrs Carlyle came to luncheon, & to take me afterwards to see—Mrs Browning. I wouldn’t tell you when I was going, so as not to keep you in suspense for a week, but I have seen her, & am not, in any way, displeased or disappointed with her appearance– I could not have been possibly, for I knew what was in her, & should have looked till I found it out. She is very small, shorter than I am, dressed in black & not with any particular care or nicety, but not at all sluttish, either, only as if she did not spend money or tho’t upon the matter—she has very small hands & feet, beautiful thick brown hair, but covered with a black cap behind, & worn in curls, not beautiful, in front, has a fine calm forehead, soft grey eyes, a low, gentle voice, & quiet, well-bred manner. Her mouth might be called ugly, but I should not call it so—it is somewhat too large & a little projecting, but you would never think of it,—her face has great refinement, great sensibility, & susceptibility, whether to sorrow or joy—it looks as if her own words expressed the simple truth, that she had had for her trial, “all the sun & all the shower”; she looks like an invalid, but a self-controlled one, who made no fuss—and is thro’ & thro’ gentle, refined, & ladylike. She received Mrs Carlyle most affly & I kept in the background, as much as possible, for I felt shy, & liked better to listen to them, a great deal, than to talk. I told her, on some explanatory words from Mrs C., that I was a perfect stranger in England, as yet, & that her name was more familiar to me than any other when I came, & that I only wished thro’ this introduction, to secure a right to call upon her, if we shld. be in Rome together next winter. I knew Mrs Carlyle could tell her about me, a great deal better than I could speak for myself, & did not expect anything but a sight of her, from this first interview. Mrs Carlyle bid me goodbye very, very kindly, & I do not think she dislikes me, which, as Edward is particularly fond of her, is a mercy, & I am uncommonly grateful for. After this, some calls, then a quiet dinner & even’g at home.
Publication: Letters of the Hon. Mrs. Edward Twisleton, ed. Ellen T.P. Vaughan (London, 1928), pp. 34–36 (in part).
Manuscript: Harvard University.
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