SD1944. Arabella Moulton-Barrett to Henrietta Cook

Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 23, 245–246 (in part).

[London]

[?17] [July 1856] [1]

My ever dearest Henrietta–

Between Ba & me, it seems that you are let slip. One supposes the other has written, because she talked of doing so—& so, & so it turns out after all, that neither has written. And still, don’t complain that you are forgotten. No one is so much talked of, or thought about as you are. Ba’s great desire to see your children, to say nothing of yrself, compels us to talk of you, even were we not inclined otherwise—but we do talk of you, & invent a thousand wild & impracticable schemes to get you to London– Still wild as we are & our schemes, none is so wild as the one you have thought of– Ba says she was alone when she got yr letter—& the idea of you craving Papa’s hospitalities for yourself & Baby for a week, so tickled her fancy, that she laughed loud out, could not stop herself—so had any one come in, they wd certainly have considered her a fit inmate for Bedlam– Oh no, Henrietta, that plan will not do– It would appear as if Surtees had fallen into great straits, & that you were coming home with yr infant, to throw yourself on Papa’s charity. If the charity would be bestowed, never mind what romantic story Papa might conjure up in his imagination but it would not—& such a proposal would put you rather into a worse position than you already are. So far had I written, when Ba came—& one visitor after another, & whilst I was talking to them I got Ba to write to you. Now I scarcely think this letter can be in time–

Yr very affecte

Arabel

Do you mean to say you & Surtees are positively making up yr minds not to come to London? You must come positively somehow– I lunched yesterday with Bell Addams & met Miss Surtees & Bessy Cook–

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.

1. Written on the same day as letter 3819.

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