The Barretts of Wimpole Street Page #3

It's going to be a great big wedding.

Twelve bridesmaids.

You must help me to pick out the dresses.

And I'm going to wear mother's wedding veil.

Don't you just love weddings, Henrietta ?

Yes, I love weddings.

And we're going to Paris on our honeymoon.

And then to Rome.

And then we're going to take the dearest, sweetest little house.

It'll be just too thrilling for words.

And I'll be so happy to have you for a bridesmaid.

Thank you, Bella.

Of course, I'd love to if papa...

Oh, I don't see how he can possibly object.

Object ? Isn't she funny, Ba ?

You're only being asked to be a bridesmaid,

not a bride.

Yes, I know, Bella. Oh, it's so hard to explain.

What's the matter ?

You know what's the matter.

It's simply that nothing at all can happen without papa's assention.

We've got to obey his least will.

We can't move hand or foot without his permission.

We haven't got a soul of our own, not one of us.

Henrietta !

Or have we ? Have we, Ba ?

I tell you, Bella. He'll more than likely refuse

to let me be your bridesmaid...

... and just because he's in a beastly temper.

Oh, gracious, cousin Henrietta,

you mustn't say such things about uncle Edward.

And I'm afraid we're disturbing poor dear cousin Elizabeth.

Poor, Ba. So pale, so fragile, so wisteria.

One has only to see your dear face

to know how near you are to heaven.

I wouldn't quite say that, Bella.

Oh, yes, you always have a look in your eyes...

... as if you already saw the angels.

I really must be going.

Goodbye. I'll come again and bring Harry.

Yes, do.

Oh, you mustn't tell anybody about my getting married.

It's to be a big surprise.

And don't worry, cousin Henrietta. I'll manage uncle Edward.

Men are really so easy to manage.

If you just know how.

But, of course, you girls have had so little experience.

Goodbye, dear, dear cousins.

Well, why don't you say something ?

What do you want me to say ?

Nothing.

Oh, Ba, darling. Don't disown me.

I deserve it, I know.

But I couldn't help it.

I'm so miserable.

Miserable, dear ?

Yes, and so wildly happy.

Oh, Ba, darling. Do you mind if I tell you about it ?

I oughtn't to, I know...

... because if papa ever found out you knew about it

he'd spend half his anger on you for not warning him.

What are you talking about, dear ?

Surtees has just asked me to marry him.

Surtees ?

Captain Cook. I've told you about him.

The guardsman, you know.

Yes, I remember, dear.

And of course I expected him and said that I couldn't...

... and I had to tell him we must

never never see each other again so when we meet tomorrow...

You're not talking sense, child.

What really has happened ?

I don't know, Ba.

Except that we both love each other.

Terribly.

Oh, my darling.

But Henrietta, papa...

Do you think I haven't thought of that ?

He'll never consent. Never.

I know.

Ba, dear, is there anything at all

to be said for papa's attitude towards marriage ?

Can it possibly be wrong

to want a man's love desperately and...

long for babies of my own ?

Love and babies are something I don't know much about.

I know, dear, you're a woman apart.

But love and babies are natural to a normal girl like me.

And what's natural can't be wrong.

No...

And yet the holiest men and women renounce these things.

I daresay, Ba. But I'm not holy.

It's different for you. You're a great genius.

Oh, yes you are. You've got your work, your studies.

But do you know, Ba ?

Sometimes I wonder.

Are you completely satisfied ?

Is it enough just to correspond

with Mr. Browning, for instance ?

Don't you sometimes wish that you could see him ?

If I could see and not be seen.

Why ?

Because at heart I'm as vain as a peacock.

He thinks my verse is stately and beautiful.

Probably thinks me the same.

It would be so humiliating to disillusion him.

Oh, don't be silly, Ba. You're very interesting and picturesque.

Isn't that how the guidebooks usually describe a ruin ?

Oh, Ba, I didn't mean it.

Of course.

Tell me, is your friend very nice ?

Surtees ?

Yes.

Oh, yes.

Oh, Ba, what are we to do ?

Ba, do you think it would be wiser

if we were never to see each other again ?

I think it might be wiser, dear.

Oh...

But at your age one shouldn't be too wise.

Oh, Ba.

Come in.

A gentleman just brought this, dear.

A gentleman ?

Yes. And he said he would wait for an answer.

Really ?

Who is it from ?

Henrietta !

A moment, dear.

Oh !

Oh, Ba, dear, whatever is it ?

Oh, really !

Please tell us, darling.

Why, Ba, you're blushing.

No wonder ! Listen to this.

"Dear Miss Barrett,

I am unable to restrain my impatience to meet you...

... and have taken it upon myself to select February 15th"...

that's today... ..."for that important occasion.

And I am at this moment seated

in your front hall awaiting your permission to present myself."

Wait a moment, there's more.

"I might add that I shall continue to sit here until

you gratify the earnest desire that prompts my impertinent persistence.

Sincerely yours, Robert Browning."

Robert Browning !

Oh, Ba, I like this Mr. Browning. You must see him.

No, I can't. At least not today.

But you should. It can't do you any harm.

Why not ?

I don't feel up to it. Really I don't. Another time.

I shall go and see him myself

and I'll send him up.

No, Henrietta ! Stay here.

I can't see him. I really don't

feel that I could see him now.

Arabel, tell Mr. Browning that I am very sorry

but I'm not well enought to see him.

But Ba, that's not true. You can't send him away.

But I'd much rather not see him.

Oh, fie. You're not a silly schoolgirl, I'll bring him up myself.

Is my hair tidy ?

Yes, dear. You look quite nice.

Arabel, fix the covers.

Yes.

Flush, get down dear.

Arabel...

Yes, dear ?

No... yes. No, never mind.

Yes, dear.

Thank you.

Arabel !

Arabel, do I...

Yes, darling.

You do. Really.

Mr. Robert Browning.

Miss Barrett.

Dear Miss Barrett, at last.

At last !

How do you do, Mr. Browning ?

I've had to put off the pleasure

of meeting you much longer than I wished.

Yes, that is it.

I beg your pardon ?

That voice.

I've heard that voice a thousand times.

How strange.

I've not been at all well this winter and I...

Won't you take off your cape ?

Thank you.

Wonderful !

Wonderful !

You may think, Miss Barrett, that this is the first time that I've been here,

but you're quite wrong, you know.

But...

Oh, yes, quite wrong.

I've seen this room more times than I can remember.

It's as familiar to me

as my own little study at home.

Before I came in

I knew just how your books were arranged.

Just how that tendril of ivy slanted across the window pane.

And those portraits of Homer and Chaucer are quite old friends.

No, really.

You know, I could never make out

who those other fellas were on the top of the wardrobe.

Oh, come, Mr. Browning. I can't believe that one of my friends

has bored you with a description of my poor little room.

I have pestered them for all the details I could possibly get.

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