Havant with a slight bow.-Keats is much better, owing to a strict forbearance from a third glass of wine. He & I walked from Chichester yesterday, we were here at 3, but the Dinner was finished; a brace of Muir fowl had been dressed; I ate a piece of the breast cold, & it was not tainted; I dared not venture further. Mr. Snook was nearly turned sick by being merely asked to take a mouthful. The other brace was so high, that the cook declined preparing them for the spit, & they were thrown away. I see your husband declared them to be in excellent order; I supposed he enjoyed them in a disgusting manner, sucking the rotten flesh off the bones, & crunching the putrid bones. Did you eat any? I hope not, for an ooman should be delicate in her food.-O you Jezabel! to sit quietly in your room, while the thieves were ransacking my house! No doubt poor Ann's throat was cut; has the Coroner sat on her yet?-Mrs. Snook says she knows how to hold a pen very well, & wants no lessons from me; only think of the vanity of the ooman! She tells me to make honourable mention of your letter which she received at Breakfast time, but how can I do so? I have not read it; & I'll lay my life it is not a tenth part so good as mine,-pshaw on your letter to her!-On Tuesday night I think you'll see me. In the mean time I'll not say a word about spasms in the way of my profession, tho' as your friend I must profess myself very sorry. Keats & I are going to call on Mr. Butler & Mr. Burton this morning, & to-morrow we shall go to Sanstead to see Mr. Way's Chapel consecrated by the two Big-wigs of Gloucester & St. Davids. If that vile Carver & Gilder does not do me justice, I'll annoy him all his life with legal expences at every quarter, if my rent is not sent to the day, & that will not be revenge enough for the trouble & confusion he has put me to.-Mrs. Dilke is remarkably well for Mrs. Dilke in winter.-Have you heard any thing of John Blagden; he is off! want of business has made him play the fool, I am sorry-that Brown and you are getting so very witty-my modest feathered Pen frizzles like baby roast beef at making its entrance among such tantrum sentences-or rather ten senses. Brown super or supper sir named the Sleek has been getting thinner a little by pining opposite Miss Muggins-(Brown says Mullins but I beg leave to differ from him)—we sit it out till ten o'Clock-Miss M. has persuaded Brown to shave his whiskers-he came down to Breakfast like the sign of the full Moon-his Profile is quite alter'd. He looks more like an oman than I ever could think it possible-and on puttieg on Mrs. D's Calash the deception was complete especially as his voice is trebled by making love in the draught of a doorway. I too am metamorphosed-a young oman here in Bed - - - hampton has over persuaded me to wear my shirt collar up to my eyes. Mrs. Snook I catch smoaking it every now and then and I believe Brown does but I cannot now look sideways. Brown wants to scribble more so I will finish with a marginal note-Viz. Remember me to Wentworth Place and Elm Cottage not forgetting Millamant Your's if possible This is abominable! I did but go up stairs to put on a clean & starched handkerchief, & that overweening rogue read my letter & scrawled over one of my sheets, and given him a counterpain,-I wish I could blank-it (k all over and beat him with a certain rod, & have a 1 Mrs. Dilke of Chichester, the mother of Keats's friend. fresh one bolstered up, Ah! he may dress me as he S k be likes but he shan't tickle me pillow the feathers,-I would not give a tester for such puns, let us ope brown (erratum-a large B-a Bumble B.) will go no further in the Bedroom & not call Mat Snook a relation to Mattrass This is grown to a conclusion-I had excellent puns in my head but one bad one from Brown has quite upset me but I am quite set-up for more, but I'm content to be conqueror. Your's in love. Cha, Brown. N.B. I beg leaf [sic] to withdraw all my Puns—they are all wash, an base uns. XCV. To FANNY KEATS. Wentworth Place Feby. [1819]. Thursday My dear Fanny, Your Letter to me at Bedhampton hurt me very much,-What objection can there be to your receiving a Letter from me? At Bedhampton I was unwell and did not go out of the Garden Gate but twice or thrice during the fortnight I was there-Since I came back I have been taking care of myself I have been obliged to do so, and am now in hopes that by this care I shall get rid of a sore throat which has haunted me at intervals nearly a twelvemonth. I had always a presentiment of not being able to succeed in persuading Mr. Abbey to let you remain longer at School-I am very sorry that he will not consent. I recommend you to keep up all that you know and to learn more by yourself however little. The time will come when you will be more pleased with Life-look forward to that time and, though it may appear a trifle be careful not to let the idle and retired Life you lead fix any awkward habit or behaviour on you-whether you sit or walk endeavour to let it be in a seemly and if possible a graceful manner. We have been very little together but you have not the less been with me in thought. You have no one in the world besides me who would sacrifice any thing for you-I feel myself the only Protector you have. In all your little troubles think of me with the thought that there is at least one person in England who if he could would help you out of them I live in hopes of being able to make you happy. -I should not perhaps write in this manner, if it were not for the fear of not being able to see you often or long together. I am in hopes Mr. Abbey will not object any more to your receiving a letter now and then from me. How unreasonable! I want a few more lines from you for George-there are some young Men, acquaintances of a Schoolfellow of mine, going out to Birkbeck's at the latter end of this Month-I am in expectation every day of hearing from George-I begin to fear his last letters miscarried. I shall be in town to-morrow-if you should not be in town, I shall send this little parcel by the Walthamstow Coach-I think you will like GoldsmithWrite me soon Your affectionate Brother Mrs. Dilke has not been very well-she is gone a walk to town to-day for exercise. My dear Fanny, XCVI. To FANNY KEATS. Wentworth Place Saturday Morn— [Postmark, 27 February 1819.] I intended to have not failed to do as you requested, and write you as you say once a fortnight. On looking to your letter I find there is no date; and not knowing how long it is since I received it I do not precisely know how great a sinner I am. I am getting quite well, and Mrs. Dilke is getting on pretty well. You must pay no attention to Mrs. Abbey's unfeeling and ignorant gabble. You can't stop an old woman's crying more than you can a Child's. The old woman is the greatest nuisance because she is too old for the rod. Many people live opposite a Blacksmith's till they cannot hear the hammer. I have been in Town for two or three days and came back last night. I have been a little concerned at not hearing from George-I continue in daily expectation. Keep on reading and play as much on the music and the grassplot as you can. I should like to take possession of those Grassplots for a Month or so ; and send Mrs. A. to Town to count coffee berries instead of currant Bunches, for I want you to teach me a few common dancing steps-and I would buy a Watch box to practise them in by myself. I think I had better always pay the postage of these Letters. I shall send you another book the first time I am in Town early enough to book it with one of the morning Walthamstow Coaches. You did not say a word about your Chilblains. |