Peni has been overwhelmed with gifts this year.  I gave him on Christmas Day (by his own secret inspiration) ’a sword with a blade to dazzle the eyes’; Robert, a box of tools and carpenter’s bench; and we united in a ‘Robinson Crusoe,’ who was well received.  Then from others he had sleeve-studs, a silver pencil-case, books, &c.  According to his own magniloquent phrase, he was ‘exceptionally happy.’  He has taken to long words; I heard him talking of ‘evidences’ the other day.  Poor little Pen! it’s the more funny that he has by no means yet left off certain of his babyisms of articulation, and the combined effects are curious.  You asked of Ferdinando.[52] Peni’s attachment for Ferdinando is undiminished.  Ferdinando can’t be found fault with, even in gentleness, without a burst of tears on Peni’s part.  Lately I ventured to ask not to be left quite alone in the house on certain occasions; and though I spoke quite kindly, there was Peni in tears, assuring me that we ought to have another servant to open the door, for that ’poor Ferdinando had a great deal too much work’!  When I ventured to demur to that, the next charge was, ’plainly I did not love Ferdinando as much as I loved Penini,’ which I could not deny; and then with passionate sobs Peni said that ‘I was very unjust indeed.’  ’Indeed, indeed, dear mama, you are unjust!  Ferdinando does everything for you, and I do nothing, except tease you, and even’ (sobbing) ’I am sometimes a very naughty boy.’  I had to mop up his tears with my pocket-handkerchief, and excuse myself as well as I could from the moral imputation of loving Peni better than Ferdinando.

We have been very glad in a visit from Frederick Tennyson....  God bless you!  Robert won’t wait.

Your ever attached
BA.

* * * * *

To Mrs. Jameson

Florence:  February 2, 1857 [postmark].

My dearest Mona Nina,—­To begin (lest I forget before the ending), don’t mind the sugar-tongs, if you have not actually bought them, inasmuch as, to my astonishment, Wilson has found a pair in Florence, marking the progress of civilisation in this South.  In Paris last winter we sought in vain.  There was nothing between one’s fingers and real silver—­too expensive for poets.  But now we are supplied splendidly—­and at the cost of five pauls, let me tell you.

Always delighted I am to have your letters, even when you don’t tell me as touchingly as in this that mine are something to you.  Do I not indeed love you and sympathise with you fully and deeply?  Yes, indeed.  On one subject I am afraid to touch.  But I know why it is you feel so long, so unduly—­so morbidly, in a sense.  People in general, knowing themselves to be innocently made to suffer, would take comfort in righteous indignation and justified contempt:  but to you the indignation and contempt would be the worst part of suffering; you can’t bear it, and you are in a strait between the two.  In fact, it relieves you rather to take part against yourself, and to conclude on the whole that there’s something really bad in you calling on the pure Heavens for vengeance.  Yes, that’s you.  You sympathise tenderly with your executioner....