[13 June 1846]. Browning, Robert to Browning, Elizabeth Barrett.

              Saturday.

Dearest, all dearest beyond my heart’s uttering, will you forgive me for that foolish letter, and the warmth, and-for all,-more than ever I thought to have needed to ask forgiveness for! I love you in every imaginable way. All was wrong, absurd, in that letter-do you forgive-now, while I kiss your feet, my own, own Ba?

For see why it was wrong .. my father & mother will not be pained in any degree: they will believe what I say, exactly what I say: I wrote on & on in a heat at the sudden ridiculous fancy of the matter’s taking place some fine morning, without a word of previous intimation,-“I am going away,-never mind where,-with somebody, never concern yourselves whom,-to stay, if forever, is it any business of yours to enquire?”- All which was .. what was it? a method of confirming you in your complimentary belief in my “calmness”-or that other in my “good practical sense”-oh, Ba, Ba, how I deserve you!