[15 July 1846]. Browning, Elizabeth Barrett to Browning, Robert.

              Wednesday morning

And is it true of today as you said it would be, ever dearest, that you wish to be with me? Let me have the comfort or luxury rather, of the thought of it, before tomorrow takes you a step farther off.

At dinner my aunt said to Papa .. “I have not seen Ba all day-and when I went to her room, to my astonishment a gentleman was sitting there”. “Who was that” said Papa’s eyes to Arabel- “Mr Browning called here today,” she answered- “And Ba bowed her head”, continued my aunt, “as if she meant to signify to me that I was not to come in”-- “Oh,” cried Henrietta, “that must have been a mistake of yours. Perhaps she meant just the contrary”. “You should have gone in”, Papa said, “& seen the poet.” Now if she really were to do that the next time!-- Yet I did not, you know, make the expelling gesture she