[25 February 1846]. Browning, Robert to Browning, Elizabeth Barrett.

              Wednesday Mg 

Once you were pleased to say, my own Ba, that “I made you do as I would”- I am quite sure, you make me speak as you would, and not at all as I mean-and for one instance, I never surely spoke anything half so untrue as that “I came with the intention of loving whomever I should find”- No!-wreathed shells, and hollows in ruins, and roofs of caves may transform a voice wonderfully, make more of it or less, or so change it as to almost alter .. but turn a “no” into a “yes” can no echo, (except the Irish one)-and I said “no” to such a charge, and still say “no”- I did have a presentiment-and tho’ it is hardly possible for me to look back on it now without lending it the true colours given to it by the event, yet I can put them aside, if I please, and remember that I not merely hoped it would not be so-(not that the effect I expected to be produced would be less than in anticipation, certainly I did not hope that-but that it would range itself with the old feelings of simple reverence and sympathy and friendship-that I should love you as much as I supposed I could love, and no more)-but in the confidence that nothing could occur to divert me from my intended way of life, I made .. went on making arrangements to return to Italy-you know-did I not tell you I wished to see you before I returned?- And I had heard of you just so much as seemed to make it impossible such a relation could ever exist: I know very well, if you choose to refer to my letters you may easily bring them to bear a sense, in parts, more agreeable to your own theory than to mine, the true one-but that was instinct, Providence-anything