26 May 1845. Browning, Robert to Browning, Elizabeth Barrett.

London

I shall be most happy to see you on the day & at the hour you mention—

God bless you, my dear friend

RB—

Nay—I must have last word—as all people in the wrong desire to have—and then, no more of the subject. You said I had given you great pain—so long as I stop that, think anything of me you choose or can! But before your former letter came, I saw the pre-ordained uselessness of mine: speaking is to some end, (apart from foolish self-relief,—which, after all, I can do without) and where there is no end … you see! or, to finish characteristically,— since the offering to cut off one’s right-hand to save anybody a headache, is in vile taste, even for our melodrames, seeing that it was never yet believed in on the stage or off it,—how much worse to really make the ugly chop, and afterwards come sheepishly in, one’s arm in a black sling, and find that the delectable gift had changed aching to nausea! There! And now, “exit, promptside, nearest door, Luria”—and enter RB—next Wednesday,—as boldly, as he suspects most people do just after they have been soundly frightened!