DIY History | Transcribe | World War I Diaries and Letters | Robert Morriss Browning correspondence to Mabel C. Williams, January-March 1918 | 1918-02-28 Robert M. Browning to Dr. Mabel C. Williams Page 2

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Robert Morriss Browning correspondence to Mabel C. Williams, January-March 1918

1918-02-28 Robert M. Browning to Dr. Mabel C. Williams Page 2

engaged I would appreciate it if you would overlook my former haughtiness. My foot, I must confess, requires an 8 1/2 E shoe. The size for sox that corresponds is 11 or 11 1/2, I think, but you can probably determine that from the other data. 
My visit to Iowa city was very pleasant, in spite of not seeing two of my very best friends. You know there are only three people there that I'd go very far to see.
Do you remember a discouraged letter I wrote last October in which I said I didn't expect to be back there until after the war. I repeat the same statement, now, but with a very different feeling. I am audacious now, perhaps, but I have a felling. - She is clinging desperately to something, I am sure. It may be to me, to hold me steady through the contest aluded, but I doubt it. Rather, it seems to me she is keeping a grip on herself that she may come through safely and that she may not divert my thoughts from the job ahead. This frankness O hope you will understand. It is good to have a friend with whom one can confide such personal things; and I want someone to tell me that I haven't been wrong in doing what I've done.Of course, I can't go ahead as though all the possibilities of battle did not exist. I am afraid sometimes that I've been wrong to go so far as i did in seeking to arouse interest, but I have tried, most of the time, not to make her care anymore than she did - except that I may have kept reminding her of my existence and all that pretty constantly. Do you think I have been wrong? OF course, my psychology may be at fault, so maybe no harm has been done anyway, even if my ethics have gone wrong. But if you can reassure me without dulling your conscience I'd appreciate it.
Sincerely Bob

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engaged I would appreciate it if you would overlook my former haughtiness. My foot, I must confess, requires an 8 1/2 E shoe. The size for sox that corresponds is 11 or 11 1/2, I think, but you can probably determine that from the other data. My visit to Iowa city was very pleasant, in spite of not seeing two of my very best friends. You know there are only three people there that I'd go very far to see. Do you remember a discouraged letter I wrote last October in which I said I didn't expect to be back there until after the war. I repeat the same statement, now, but with a very different feeling. I am audacious now, perhaps, but I have a felling. - She is clinging desperately to something, I am sure. It may be to me, to hold me steady through the contest aluded, but I doubt it. Rather, it seems to me she is keeping a grip on herself that she may come through safely and that she may not divert my thoughts from the job ahead. This frankness O hope you will understand. It is good to have a friend with whom one can confide such personal things; and I want someone to tell me that I haven't been wrong in doing what I've done.Of course, I can't go ahead as though all the possibilities of battle did not exist. I am afraid sometimes that I've been wrong to go so far as i did in seeking to arouse interest, but I have tried, most of the time, not to make her care anymore than she did - except that I may have kept reminding her of my existence and all that pretty constantly. Do you think I have been wrong? OF course, my psychology may be at fault, so maybe no harm has been done anyway, even if my ethics have gone wrong. But if you can reassure me without dulling your conscience I'd appreciate it. Sincerely Bob