Among his discoveries and inventions, he will invent some day an Aladdin's lamp, and then you will be suddenly potentates, and vanish in a clap of thunder.
Till then, think of me sometimes, dearest Madame Braun, as I do of _you_, and of all your great kindness to me at Rome.
Ever your affectionate ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING.
* * * * * _To Mr.Ruskin_ Florence: June 2, 1855.
My dear Mr.Ruskin,--I believe I shall rather prove in this letter how my head turns round when I write it, than explain why I didn't write it before--and so you will go on to think me the most insusceptible and least grateful of human beings--no small distinction in our bad obtuse world.

Yet the truth is--oh, the truth is, that I am deeply grateful to you and have felt to the quick of my heart the meaning and kindness of your words, the worth of your sympathy and praise.

One thing especially which you said, made me thankful that I had been allowed to live to hear it--since even to fancy that anything I had written could be the means of the least good to _you_, is worth all the trumpet blowing of a vulgar fame.

Oh, of course, I do not exaggerate, though your generosity does.

I understand the case as it is.