SD1932. Marianna Pelham Mott to Unidentified Correspondent

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 22, 274 (in part).

[Paris]

[28–] 29 May 1856

We called on Mrs. Browning yesterday. Armed with a very pretty letter from Grace. After ringing pretty vigorously a few times at the bell a small dark woman opened the door & looked upon us with a somewhat inhospitable expression that did’nt make us wish we’d brought our mother—but we entered & found she was the lady we sought– An expression of annoyance & bodily suffering soon gave place to a more natural sweet & intellectual look & we had a very pleasant visit I am very glad to have seen her, & wish she was a little handsomer—we were not fortunate enough to see her husband but hope so next time—she talked much of her child—a handsome English looking boy of 7 years old—& of his education– The dark little room had more of a literary than domestic character & had it not been glorified with the genius of poetry would have been called cheerless. The literal & commonplace outlines of the picture were a little scrap of a woman among a chaos of papers & a great many inkspots. …

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Smith College.

___________________