SD1653. Ellen Twisleton to Dwight Family
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 19, 367 (in part).
Florence
May 12th, 1853.
… Friday, I took out my long-neglected paintbox, and painted some flowers and birds for little Robert Browning, who is a little angel-looking child, and offered, I thought, the least pretentious method, of doing something to please his mother. … Saturday morning, also, we had a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Browning, who were very cordial and kind to us, and asked us to come again on Sunday evening, which we did. Sunday, I staid at home in the morning, read, and wrote, and in the afternoon, took a drive to a hill called Bellosguardo, whence is the most complete and charming view of Florence—the air was soft, and sweet, and we sat down on an old stone wall, and enjoyed it, heartily—and I wished for all of you to sit down too, in a long string! … It is a beloved little city, and this a delightful point to take one’s last view of it. We went to the Brownings’ about half past eight and spent two hours quite alone with them, but I must reserve a dissertation upon them, for a more leisure season. …
Text: Letters of the Hon. Mrs. Edward Twisleton, ed. Ellen T.P. Vaughan (London, 1928), pp. 83–84.
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