SD669. Angela Bayford to Henrietta Moulton-Barrett
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 359 (in part).
Kinnersley
[ca. August] 1828
My dearest Henrietta,
Do not be very angry with me when I tell you that I have resolved to deprive you of my charming society, till Monday next, on which day Augustus and I intend to place ourselves in that vulgar vehicle a mail, which will transport our precious persons to Hereford & from thence on to Ledbury. I have not come to this cruel resolution of absenting myself for so long a period from Hope End, of my own free will & desire, but have been pressed to remain here in so kind and urgent a manner that I believe it would be impolite to refuse a compliance with Mrs Clarke’s proposal for our further stay. Nothing can be more at home than I feel myself, having pretty well overcome my fears, and being now as much at my ease as I could possibly expect to be, amongst those who were almost strangers to me. After you took your departure on Thursday evening I was left, by myself, in the sitting room, passing my time in as agreeable a manner as I could; my rightful Beau being or rather having been [illegible word] inveigled from me, by Bro, to attend the concert. You will believe me when I assure you that, I spent by no means a disagreeable evening; as I continued to procure a sheet of paper from the book sellers shop below, and found plenty of occupation in filling this paper with a lengthened epistle to some of my absent friends. This, you know, was a most interesting and agreeable way of passing a few hours. At 9 o’clock I summoned to my assistance Mrs Clarke’s maid who had been left with strict instructions to shew your humble servant every possible attention, and who kindly escorted me to Mrs Bennet’s, where a Bed was prepared for my use; some of the visitors having taken their departure, and therefore left a void space in the house to be filled by my bulky person. Here I laid myself down to rest, but not to sleep; my eyes indeed were closed but it was impossible to gain more repose than arises from a quiet doze, as my apartment being placed over the stable yard, I was annoyed by the loud voices of half-tipsy coachmen & grooms, who quarrelled, laughed & talked the whole night whilst their masters & mistresses were enjoying the Hereford gaieties. Added to this, I was disturbed by the performance of the noisy ceremony of mangling over head, by the rattling of hail & rain down my chimney, and by the distant rumbling of carriages, to which last sound I have for some time been quite unaccustomed, from the secluded situation in which I have been during both my last visit. I was out of my downy bed very early and was escorted to Mrs Clarke’s apartment, w[h]ere we breakfasted; and after having dawdled away a few hours, we set off for Kinnersley; I, inside the carriage along, with Mrs Clarke, and Augustus and Mr Clarke on the |Barnacle| seat of a Lady’s carriage, who was bound in the same direction, but alas a name you must excuse my forgetting[.] Kinnersley is quite a different place from the picture of it presented by my imagination. I had always sketched out a large, rambling, cold, comfortless ghost-inhabited mansion; instead of which, we were agreeably surprised by an introduction into a most comfortable, snug, warm abode, by far too well furnished with the luxuries and elegancies of life, to be the resort of such cold shadowy beings as ghosts, who I am sure would be unable to make their appearance amongst so many gay bright flowers without, and so many nice warm rugs, mats, and carpets within. Having thus lost my apprehension of spiritual forms, you may imagine that I have no other formidable enemies to dread, the rats are much better behaved than at Hope-End, and as to dogs, which are my great aversion, I have as yet seen only one poor, meek, unoffending animal that causes in me no sensation of terror.
Saturday I took a long pleasant walk with Mrs Clarke, and on my return was delighted to find my mail arrived & placed in my Bed-room. Thank dear Ba for writing out the directions, and also thank the kind person, whoever she may be, who placed inside my box the little parcel from Miss Cliff, which contained one of her beautiful etchings, accompanied by a very pretty note. When I return to dear Hope-End, I must if possible, visit Mrs Cliff, and thank her daughter for this most kind & welcome present; I really am pleased with the drawing itself and by the kindness and good natured act in sending it to me. only think of my having, in the bustle of a very hurried departure, forgotten to put up my precious ink-bottle; the loss if it is indeed very great as I am now forced to write all my epistles before tout le monde, which prevent my so frequently indulging my epistolary propensitys; as I find it will not do to pass my mornings in scribbling.
Sunday I heard rather a good sermon at the Church from Dr Clactton’s Son; the doctrine was very scriptural except on one point which was rather objectionable[,] namely the regeneration arising from & attending water—Baptism. In the evening I was made quite happy by the reception of the letter from home, wch you were so kind as to forward to me. It was a very interesting dispatch, and has received a suitable answer. As to Augustus, he is as happy as possible and is at this moment shooting. I am dreadfully hurried in writing this letter that I must beg you to excuse the 1000 faults. Only think of my detaining Lady Mary Sheppard’s parasol; I entirely forgot to give it to you at Hereford. Augustus, however, is less tender in this conscience than I am, & tries to make me feel easy on the subject, by informing me that Lady Mary has purloined his umbrella, & therefore exchange is no robbery. By the Bye, I can discover no trace of your pocket handkerchief; it certainly is not in my bunch; so pray look for it in every direction at Hope-End as I fear if it does not make it[s] appearance you will suspect me of theft. I have time to add no more, & must therefore with love to all, subscribe myself, in very great haste
Yr very affectionate
Angela
Address, on integral page: Miss Henrietta Barrett / Hope-End / near Ledbury / Herefordshire.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Altham Archive.
___________________
