personal matter, and I would not let anyone choose
one for _me_. Still, as you had more faith in man (or woman), I would
have risked even displeasing you, only Robert would not let me. He said
it was absurd--I 'did not know your size;' I 'could not know your
taste;' in fact, he would not let me. Perhaps after all it is better.
You shall see mine, which is the last novelty, and I will tell you the
results of having investigated the bonnet question generally. I was told
at a fashionable shop that hats might be worn out of one's teens; but
in Paris, let me hasten to add, you don't see hats walking about except
on the heads of small girls. In Rome it may be otherwise, as at the
seaside it was. Bonnets are a great deal larger, but you shall see.

Oh, so glad I am to be back--so glad, so glad!

And so happy I shall be to see you, dearest Fanny, whom, till now, I
have not thanked for the pretty, pretty sketch. I recognised the persons
at a glance, you threw into them so much character....

Your ever most affectionate
E.B.B.

* * * * *

_To Miss Browning_

[Florence: about November 1858.]

Robert's uncertainty about Rome, my dearest Sarianna, has led him into
delay of writing. We dropped here upon summer, and a few days
afterwards, just as suddenly, the winter dropped upon _us_. Such
wonderful weather, such cold, such snow--enough to strangle one. The
rain has come, however, to-day, and though everything feels wretched
enough, and I am languid about schemes of travelling, we talk of going
next week, should nothing hinder.

'If it be possible
After much grief and pain.'

Peni would rather stay, I believe. His Florence is in his heart still.

Robert will have told you about his bust,[59] which is exquisite in the
clay, and will be exhibited in London in the marble next May. The
likeness, the poetry, the ideal grace and infantile reality are all
there. I am so happy to have it. I set about teasing Robert till he gave
it to me, and, as he really loses nothing thereby, I accepted at once,
as you may suppose. I would rather have given up Rome and had the bust;
but the artist was generous, and would only accept what would cover the
expenses, twenty-five guineas. He said he 'would not otherwise do it for
us, as he asked in the first place to be allowed to make the sketch in
clay, and would not appear to have laid a trap for an order.' So we are
all three very happy and grateful to