wer_ seemed to be leaving him, but he has
recovered it tenfold, says my informant, so I hope we shall hear of more
wonders. Did you read the article in the 'Westminster'? The subject _se
prete au ridicule_, but ridicule is not disproof. The Empress Eugenie
protects his little sister, and has her educated in Paris.

Surely I have made up for silence. Dearest friends, both of you, may God
bless you!

Your affectionate
BA.

Robert's love and Peni's.

* * * * *

In the summer of 1858 an expedition was made to France, in order to
visit Mr. Browning's father and sister; but no attempt was made to
extend the journey into England. In fact, the circle of their flights
from Florence was becoming smaller; and as 1856 saw Mrs. Browning's last
visit to England, so 1858 saw her last visit to France, or, indeed,
beyond the borders of Italy at all. It was only a short visit, too,--not
longer than the usual expeditions into the mountains to escape the
summer heat of Florence. In the beginning of July they reached Paris,
where they stayed at the Hotel Hyacinthe, rue St. Honore, for about a
fortnight, before going on to Havre in company with old Mr. Browning and
Miss Browning. There they remained until September, when they returned
to Paris for about a month, and thence, early in October, set out for
Italy.

* * * * *

_To Miss E.F. Haworth_

Hotel Hyacinthe, St. Honore:
Wednesday and Thursday, July 8, 1858 [postmark].

My dearest Fanny,--The scene changes. No more cypresses, no more
fireflies, no more dreaming repose on burning hot evenings. Push out the
churches, push in the boulevards. Here I am, sitting alone at this
moment, in an hotel near the Tuileries, where we have taken an apartment
for a week, a pretty salon, with the complement of velvet sofas, and
arm-chairs, and looking-glasses, and bedrooms to correspond, with clocks
at distances of three yards, as if the time was in desperate danger of
forgetting itself--which it is, of course. Paris looks more splendid
than ever, and we were not too much out of breath with fatigue, on our
arrival last night, to admit of various cries of admiration from all of
us. It is a wonderfully beautiful city; and wonderfully cold considering
the climate we came from. Think of our finding ourselves forced into
winter suits, and looking wistfully at the grate. I did so this morning.
But now there is sunshine.

We had a pr