第25章 Chapter 6(4)

P.S.(in pencil).--A most unnecessary desire,but urged on me by Messrs.Longman:no notice on Str.in to-night's True Sun,lest the other papers be jealous!!!

A second letter,undated,but evidently written a day or two later,refers to the promised notice,which had then appeared.

Tuesday Night.

No words can express my feelings:I happen to be much annoyed and unwell --but your most generous notice has almost made 'my soul well and happy now.'

I thank you,my most kind,most constant friend,from my heart for your goodness --which is brave enough,just now.

I am ever and increasingly yours,Robert Browning.

You will be glad to see me on the earliest occasion,will you not?

I shall certainly come.

A letter from Miss Flower to Miss Sarah Fox (sister to the Rev.William Fox),at Norwich,contains the following passage,which evidently continues a chapter of London news:

'Then 'Strafford';were you not pleased to hear of the success of one you must,I think,remember a very little boy,years ago.

If not,you have often heard us speak of Robert Browning:

and it is a great deal to have accomplished a successful tragedy,although he seems a good deal annoyed at the go of things behind the scenes,and declares he will never write a play again,as long as he lives.

You have no idea of the ignorance and obstinacy of the whole set,with here and there an exception;think of his having to write out the meaning of the word 'impeachment',as some of them thought it meant 'poaching'.'

On the first night,indeed,the fate of 'Strafford'hung in the balance;it was saved by Macready and Miss Helen Faucit.After this they must have been better supported,as it was received on the second night with enthusiasm by a full house.The catastrophe came after the fifth performance,with the desertion of the actor who had sustained the part of Pym.

We cannot now judge whether,even under favourable circumstances,the play would have had as long a run as was intended;but the casting vote in favour of this view is given by the conduct of Mr.Osbaldistone,the manager,when it was submitted to him.

The diary says,March 30,that he caught at it with avidity,and agreed to produce it without delay.The terms he offered to the author must also have been considered favourable in those days.

The play was published in April by Longman,this time not at the author's expense;but it brought no return either to him or to his publisher.It was dedicated 'in all affectionate admiration'to William C.Macready.

We gain some personal glimpses of the Browning of 1835-6;one especially through Mrs.Bridell-Fox,who thus describes her first meeting with him:

'I remember ...when Mr.Browning entered the drawing-room,with a quick light step;and on hearing from me that my father was out,and in fact that nobody was at home but myself,he said:

"It's my birthday to-day;I'll wait till they come in,"and sitting down to the piano,he added:"If it won't disturb you,I'll play till they do."And as he turned to the instrument,the bells of some neighbouring church suddenly burst out with a frantic merry peal.It seemed,to my childish fancy,as if in response to the remark that it was his birthday.

He was then slim and dark,and very handsome;and --may I hint it --just a trifle of a dandy,addicted to lemon-coloured kid-gloves and such things:quite "the glass of fashion and the mould of form."But full of ambition,eager for success,eager for fame,and,what's more,determined to conquer fame and to achieve success.'