but I did, because I hate to seem ungracious and unkind to people; and human beings, besides, are better than their books, than their principles, and even than their everyday actions, sometimes.  I am always crying out:  ’Blessed be the inconsistency of men.’  Then I thought it probable that, the first shock of the cold water being over, he would like the proposed new acquaintances very much—­and so it turns out.  She was very agreeable, and kind, and good-natured, and talked much about you, which was a charm of itself; and we mean to be quite friends, and to lend each other books, and to forget one another’s offences, in print or otherwise.  Also, she admits us on her private days; for she has public days (dreadful to relate!), and is in the full flood and flow of Florentine society.  Do write to me, will you? or else I shall set you down as vexed with me.  The state of politics here is dismal.  Newspapers put down; Protestant places of worship shut up.  It is so bad that it must soon be better.  What are you both thinking of the ’Papal aggression’?[206] ’Are you frightened?  Are you frenzied?  For my part I can’t get up much steam about it.  The ‘Great Insult’ was simply a great mistake, the consequence (natural enough) of the Tractarian idiocies as enacted in Italy.

God bless both of you, dearest and always remembered friends!  Robert’s best regards, he says.

Your affectionate
BA.

Tell me your thoughts about France.  I am so anxious about the crisis there.[207] We have had a very interesting visit lately from the grandson of Goethe.

[Footnote 206:  The Papal Bull appointing Roman Catholic bishops throughout England was issued on September 24, 1850, and England was now in the throes of the anti-papal excitement produced by it.]

[Footnote 207:  “Where Louis Napoleon was engaged in his series of encroachments on the power of the Assembly and intrigues for the imperial throne.”]

To Miss Browning Florence:  April 23, 1851 [postmark].

My dearest Sarianna,—­I do hope that Robert takes his share of the blame in using and abusing you as we have done.  It was altogether too bad—­shameful—­to send that last MS. for you to copy out; and I did, indeed, make a little outcry about it, only he insisted on having it so.  Was it very wrong, I wonder?  Your kindness and affectionateness I never doubt of; but if you are not quite strong just now, you might be teased, in spite of your heart, by all that copying work—­not pleasant at any time.  Well, believe that I thank you, at least gratefully, for what you have done.  So quickly too!  The advertisement at the end of the week proves how you must have worked for me.  Thank you, dear Sarianna.