[Postmark: July 31, 1846]
Friday.
Dearest Ba, the love was as you admit, beneath all the
foolish words — I will lay your pardon to my heart with the
other blessings. All this missing of instant understanding
— (for it does not amount to misunderstanding) — comes of
letters, and our being divided. In my anxiety about a
point, I go too much on the other side from mere earnest-
ness, — as if the written words had need to make up in force
what they want in sound and promptness — and assuredly if
I had received such an impression directly from your
suggestion (since not a ‘ desire, ‘ — you dear, dear Ba ! )
I should have begun at once to ask and argue . . whereas, it
was only to the memory of what you said, an after impression,
that I wrote in answer. Well, I will certainly ‘ love you till
Saturday, — and even after. ‘
Did you indeed go to the Abbey ? How right to go !
Every such expedition is the removal of a world of
apprehension. And why not accept Mrs. Jameson’s offer now,
stipulating for privacy, and go and see the Museum, — the
Marbles? And the National Gallery, and whatever you
would wish to see. At Pisa, Ba, the Cathedral will be
ours, wholly — divinely beautiful it is — more impressive
in itself than the Florence Duomo — and then the green grass
round, over the pavement it hides.
And considerably more impressive than the party at
Mrs. Milner Gibson’s last night — whereof I made one through
a sudden goodnatured invitation which only came yesterday —
so I went ‘ for reasons. ‘ Chorley was there, looking
very tired as he said he was. I left very early, having
accomplished my purpose.
You know you are right, and that I knew you to be right
about Mr. Kenyon — no confidence shall I make to him, be
assured — but in the case of a direct application, with all
those kind apologies in case his suspicion should be wrongly
excited, what should I say ? — to Mr. Kenyon, with his
kindness and its right, mind — not to any other inquirer —
think of the facilities during the week among the Quantock
Hills! But no matter, — nothing but your own real,
unmistakable consent, divides us — I believe nothing till
that comes. The Havre voyage was of course merely a fact
noted — all courses, ways, routes are entirely the same to me.
Thank you, dearest — I am very much better, well,
indeed — so said my doctor who came last evening to see
my father, whose eye is a little inflamed — so shall Ba see,
but not take the trouble to say, when I rejoice in her
presence to-morrow. Dearest, I love you with my whole
heart and soul — may God bless you —