SD1754. Henrietta Cook to William Surtees Cook
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 20, 370 (in part).
[Taunton]
June 9th [1854] [1]
My beloved Surtees
You are good dear & kind!! I was so pleased to see your letter this morng—& to find you were in a lighter mood– You will all find your level in time be assured but take care of your letters, that of this morning came open, & with all your treasure in it!!– It is a pleasant sound to me to hear you are <…> for lodgings for us, because I think I shall see you the sooner for it!– I cannot help thinking that the P.M. is |secured| to you, or you would surely have heard before this. Esther came to me with rather a long face just now, to know whether the report today was a correct one, that the regt was going to Ireland. Some women had been here to enquire if it were the case– Our pet Mary is still not quite herself—her cheeks still rather hot, & she will not leave me we are going to give her one of Dr Hays’ powders this eveng, & I trust tomorrow she will be herself again– <Altham> is quite well—insisted this morning upon making jelly he went with me to Mr Gann’s for an hour & a half yesterday, & was as good as usual– I am happy to say dearest Mrs Cook is much better today, & is just going to take a little walk with Altham & me, she desires her best love– I have been very busy all this morng washing all the ornaments in the drawing rooms, the windows have been cleaned today, & I hope we shall look bright for Monday. Our little garden looks so pretty, now the geraniums are in—I do grudge leaving it for others!! but it is not for us to choose for ourselves. Mr & Mrs Doveton have just been here—& Robin this morng—they had a Garden party at Hetherton last eveng!—given I believe expressly to introduce them to some of the neighbourhood—Robin’s opinions of some of our friends was rather cutting! Mr & Mrs Eagles, the Newtons, Mr Readon & Mr Follett were there, the Hedleys stay at Hetherton yet longer—prime favorites they must be! Pray pray take care of yourself, when do you think you will be back? or am I to go to you? Altham was awake at 1/2 past 4 this morng, & would not let me sleep much after it. I heard from Mrs James Martin today. She writes in bad spirits, they are going |home| to London. I paid your three bills yesterday– Did you not say I was to pay for the [illegible word] baskets but you did not give me the bill [illegible word] I take the [illegible word] of the furniture!—beware of the L:C: & don’t quarrel with him if you can help it!– I love you dearest Surtees with all [illegible word] heart!!
& ans your own Henrietta
Come as soon as you can– Robin paid me your shilling & I spent it in postage stamps as we had none was it very imprudent Oh! I forgot to tell you Mary’s |work| is come so very very pretty it is a beautiful ottoman it will be!!
O O O O [2]
<Altham’s> kisses & Ba<by> & Mary’s too!!–
Address: Captain Surtees Cook / 1st Somerset Militia / Plymouth.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.
1. Year provided by postmark.
2. The “O’s” written in Altham’s juvenile hand.
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