SD662. Angela Bayford to Henrietta Moulton-Barrett
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 358 (in part).
Piercefield
Monday July 14 1828–
My dearest Henrietta,
As you beg me to send an “immediate” reply to your most kind and affectionate letter, you must not be surprised or angry at my not being able to give you a decided answer to the very agreeable & very kind proposal for me to spend a few days in your beloved society on my return from Piercefield. As far as I myself am concerned, I cannot hesitate to accept with joy and gratitude such a very delightful invitation; but, of course, I can not decidedly promise to come, until I hear what Papa and Mama think of the plan. I have written home giving an account of the really kind & welcome letter I have received from you, and joining my earnest entreaties to the very affectionate wishes you have expressed on the subject; I shall anxiously expect a reply which will I sincerely hope prove as favorable to you & me as I am led to think it will.
Your kind & thoughtful offer of meeting me at Ross (if I am able to come) will be a great means of facilitating our most delightful meeting; I do not at present know of any means of conveyance to our place of rendezvous, but I have no doubt when I talk over the plan with my Friends here, that some arrangement will be kindly made for bringing me to Ross. What real & unexpected happiness again to see your dear, beloved faces! I assure you I look forward with unallayed pleasure to a very very happy meeting. But no, my darling Henrietta, it will not be quite unallayed; your dear, beloved Mama was in the height of health & strength when I last enjoyed her precious society; she is now laid on the bed of sickness by the chastening hand of Him who has judged fit in his unscrutable wisdom, thus, for so continued a period, to deprive her, the life & joy of her family, of that health & vigor she once possessed. This trying dispensation is certainly most mysterious to us shortsighted mortals, but we know that our merciful Father “doth not willingly afflict the children of men”; he doeth all things right, & we who are called to suffering & anxiety must bow to the rod & him who hath appointed it, and pray that we may be able to say in humble submission “it is the Lord, let him do as seemeth him good.”
I do indeed join with you, my dearest Henrietta in the joyful thankfulness you so sweetly express, at the slight but gradual change for the better observable in your beloved Invalid. May the great Physician mercifully continue to answer the many prayers which are put up for the complete restoration of your dear invaluable Mother; may he give her much inward peace & spiritual communion during her illness, & in his own good time restore to her the blessing of hea<lth> which He alone can bestow and preserve.
And now, my dear Henrietta, I need hardly say that I take it for granted that a visit from me to Hope-End would not in any way annoy or worry dearest Mrs Barrett; were she in the enjoyment of health, I know that it would give her real pleasure to receive me if not for my own sake, at least for Mama’s; but during illness it is a very different thing, and even a short visit from such a very quiet, stupid little being as myself, might not be quite convenient & agreeable to her, under present circumstances;– If this is the case I trust to your kindness frankly to tell me so.
I am very anxious to receive Mama’s answer to the letter I have dispatched to her, but I do not expect to hear till the middle of the week, as I know she has a great many occupations to employ her time. When I receive the desired reply I will immediately let you know Mama’s opinion on my proposed visit, as also, whether any arrangements can be made for my safe conveyance to Ross.
I have just undergone the very disagreeable operation of having my head shaved; I had already completely cut short my long hair, but finding no advantage result from it, I was reduced to the painful necessity of undergoing this annoying operation. It is all over now however, and as the deed is done I must abide by my decision. I have not yet ventured to take a look at myself in the looking-glass; I expect a very frightful disagreeable sight when I summon up my courage for the dreaded peep.
I fear you will think this a very foolish undecided answer to your very very kind invitation, but I cannot send a more satisfactory reply till I have consulted higher powers. With most affectionate love to dearest Mrs Barrett, & dearest Ba, Believe me ever to remain
Yr sincerely attached
Angela–
Address, on integral page: Miss Henrietta Barrett / Hope End / near Ledbury / Herefordshire.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.
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