Now let me tell you of Wimpole Street.  Henry has been very kind in coming not infrequently; he has a kind, good heart.  Occy, too, I have seen three or four times, Alfred and Sette once.  My dearest Arabel is, of course, here once if not twice a day, and for hours at a time, bringing me great joy always, and Henrietta’s dear kindness in coming to London on purpose to see me, for a week, has left a perfume in my life.  Both those beloved sisters have been, as ever, perfect to me.  Arabel is vexed just now, and so am I, my brothers having fixed with papa to go out of town directly, and she caring more to stay where I am....

I have not written to papa since our arrival through my fear of involving Arabel; but as soon as they go to the country I shall hopelessly write.  He is very well and in good spirits, thank God.

We have spent two days at New Cross with my husband’s father and sister, and she has been here constantly.  Most affectionate they are to me, and the babe is taken into adoration by Mr. Browning.

But here he is upon me again!  Indeed, I have had wonderful luck in having been able to write all this; and now, God bless both of you, my dearest friends.  Oh, I do feel to my heart all your kindness in wishing to have us with you, and, indeed, Robert would like to see Herefordshire, but—­

[The remainder of this letter is wanting]

* * * * *

To Mrs. Martin

26 Devonshire Street:  Wednesday, [September 1851].

My dearest Mrs. Martin,—­I write in haste to you to tell you some things which you should hear without delay.

After Robert’s letter to George had been sent three times to Wales and been returned twice, it reached him, and immediately upon its reaching him (to do George justice) he wrote a kind reply to apprise us that he would be at our door the same evening.  So the night before last he came, and we are all good friends, thank God.  I tenderly love him and the rest, and must for ever deplore that such poor barriers as a pedantic pride can set up should have interposed between long and strong and holy affections for years.  But it is past, and I have been very happy in being held in his arms again, and seen in his eyes that I was still something more to him than a stone thrown away.  So, if you have thought severely of him, you and dear Mr. Martin, do not any longer.  Preserve your friendship for him, my dearest friends, and let all this foolish mistaken past be well past and forgotten.  I think him looking thin, though it does not strike them so in Wimpole Street, certainly.