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

              Saturday morning-

A bright beautiful day this is, on which you do not come-it seems as if you ought to have come on it by rights. Dearest, you did not meet Mr Kenyon yesterday after you left me? I fancied that you might, &, so, be detected in the three hours, to the fullest length of them-it seemed possible. Now I look forward to the driving instead of to you-& he has just sent to desire me to be ready at a quarter to three, & not later, as was fixed in your hearing.- And why, pray, should you be glad that I am going on this excursion? I should have liked it, if we had been living in the daylight: but with all these “shadows, clouds & darkness”, it is pleasanter to me to sit still & see nobody-& least, Mr Kenyon. Oh, that somebody would spirit him away gently, very gently, so as to do him no manner of harm, in achieving the good for me!-for both you & me. Did you say “Do you pity me” to me?!