Chapter XVII: Letter XVI: To Madox Brown, Hampstead

“My pupil” must, no doubt, have been Miss Siddal. In the P.S. she figures as “dear G.,” which indicates the pet name “Guggum.” Her drawing from Wordsworth was an illustration of the poem, _We are Seven_.

Albany Street.
½ past 9 Saturday evening.
[29 January 1853.]

My dear Brown,

I am quite vexed with myself for having been away after being
the originator in to-day’s invitation; but, after painting till
nearly five and warming myself afterwards in the full certainty
of abundant time, I ended by being completely set at nought by
accursed shoe-strings and other domestic demons which turned
up to be attended to before I could leave; and, when at last
I got the better of them, behold it wanted but a quarter to
six o’clock. My intention was to come and dine and get you to
accompany me afterwards to the Photographic Exhibition, whither
I had promised to take my pupil on this the last evening of the
season. Being baffled of coming to dine, I dined at Chatham
Place, went to the Photographic Exhibition, and then came on,
still hoping to find you, knowing your intrepidity in late walks.
This last chance is missed, however, as fate wills it, and I can
only repeat how vexed and apologetic I feel about the matter, and
hope to see you some other way soon--

Remaining yours ever,
D. G. ROSSETTI.

P.S.--If you are in London any day, do look in at Chatham Place
and see dear G.’s drawings--the one from Wordsworth is very
advanced and nearly done.