SD412. Charlotte Graham-Clarke to Henrietta Moulton-Barrett
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 1, 331 (in part).
Crown Hotel [Harrogate]
Tuesday 13th Novr 1821
While Fanny is busily occupied in writing beside me, how can I more happily and comfortably employ myself, than by turning my back on this miserable foggy atmosphere, drawing my chair close to a blazing fire, and thanking my own darling Henrietta for her most welcome, tho’ impertinent letter? Certainly it would be impossible to make a more agreeable arrangement, and therefore supposing we are seated tête à tête, let me proceed to tell you—Madam—you are an impudent little pussy cat for addressing your Venerable old Maiden Aunt with so little respect—Cinderella Indeed! and to hint even at the necessity of lighting fires and boiling kettles, in the lovely old maids cottage, which my romantic imagination, only pictures as a lovely mansion of peace, situated in some elegant retirement, blooming, like myself, all the year round with roses and ever greens!– After this, judge, Madam, how rude and uncouth must your insinuations have appeared! Such however, I conclude is the fate of all antiquated Spinsters, who have the misfortune to have conceited nieces and therefore shall very wisely endeavor to endure it as philosophically as I can, which I shall find after all no very arduous task, provided the most terrific consequence arising therefrom be a quizzing letter or two from my own darling pet—tho’ should they all be equally amusing as the last, I know not what you may have to answer for, since that almost put me into fits.– let me ask—did you write it after dinner? Surely you must have partaken of more than your usual portion of good strong family drink to have produced such an effusion of merriment—and if you persist in such practices, I have a terrible presentiment, that some day or other, I shall be compelled, at my cottage hearth, to wield my goose quill, and charitably offer to your consideration a gentle lecture on—Sobriety.—thus concluding my sage counsel for the present, my next pleasurable subject is our beloved Ba’s improved health, of which you speak so certainly and so affectionately—that it does my heart good—indeed my sweetest Henrietta I do sanguinely hope each day now, will bring successively some increase of amendment, and that the next time we have the happiness of meeting we may all be blessed with our usual share of good health and spirits to enjoy every moment of each others agreeable society, a circumstance which seems lately to have been of rare occurrence, But—is it possible that even an intended Cinderella should have been able to write so much from so gay a Watering place as Harrogate without mentioning something of the fashionable World? Strange indeed does it appear! and stranger still that I should find nothing to say on the subject—it is impossible to fancy any place more bleak and desert like with the exception of this warm snug little room, which jus<t> contains as merry & happy a trio, as I daresay ever occupied it.—the gay visitors are reduced to about ten, some of whom are sufficiently winning in appearance or manners to give us the wish to scrape an acquaintance—the Weather however has been tolerably civil and we have enjoyed some clear frosty walks to high Harrogate—in short I think at times we might almost have forgotten that it is the middle of November, had not the whole of yesterday been passed by the good people here in dragging a pond opposite the hotel in consequence of a man having been seen wandering on the edge the night before, and the report of a tremendous splash having been heard immediately after.– Great was the general consternation and alarm—however, you need not prepare for woe. My sad tale will no longer excite your interest since I believe a few starved eels were the only rewards for the trouble of letting off the water—— We have been here exactly a fortnight today, and tomorrow set out on our journey home which we shall reach very quickly by dinner time on Thursday—and where we flatter ourselves we shall be hailed as very welcome additions to my Mothers small party of fashionables—indeed I grieve to think what a dull fortnight she must have spent—and wish from my heart my sweetest Harry you had been there to help Arabella and Louisa to keep up her spirits– You will indeed be delighted with them—they are both lovely and good—& I expect you will be particularly fond of my God Child Louisa—but I cannot be disinterested enough to hope you will soon renew your acquaintance with them, and you may be very sure, we shall try to keep them with us as long as ever we can—therefore your only alternative is to come and fetch them—so pop on your grey cloak & bonnet & set off immediately to partake of goose pie & other Xmas dainties– Now that dear little Sam is gone to school—my friend Storm, I conclude is the leader of all mischief—and I can fancy him looking more sly and of greater <impor>tance than ever. Give him and all the rest of my darlings a thousand loves and kisses for me. I am delighted to hear so good an account of your birds, as for me (now that my pig is dead) I have not a pet but yourself!!– do not be too vain at the exception. I shall certainly give Bowmaker all your messages kind and scolding tho’ my own conscience fairly smites me when I think of the great cause we have both given you for the latter—however, for myself, I promise to behave better and you tell me I am forgiven– Good bye my own darling—give your dear Papa & Mama each a sweet kiss for me and always believe me
your most affecte
Lotte
Kind love to dear Minney–
pray write to me again soon & love me very dearly——
Address, on integral page: Miss Henrietta Barrett / Hope End.
Publication: None traced.
Source: Transcript in editors’ file.
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