Edith Simcox, Autobiography, 10 December 1879
Title
Edith Simcox, Autobiography, 10 December 1879
Title
Edith Simcox, Autobiography, 10 December 1879
Sender
Edith Simcox
Recipient
U
Date(s)
- 1879-12-10
Place
London
Letter Content
Edith Simcox, Autobiography, 10 December 1879
MS: Bodleian.
Wednesday 10 December 1879
December 10. On Wednesday (26th) I went to the Priory, she was engaged. Wrote to her to ask what I should do about the offer of divers people to subscribe to the election expenses. She answered accept, and so I ceased to refuse. Then came the election and on Sunday, the 30th I forgot everything except that day last year, and the sadness of her maimed life and the grief that one may share but cannot lessen. I could not bring myself to write to her though I had her note of counsel to acknowledge. The next day brought me a card of affectionate congratulations, and then I went to see her on Wednesday -- after writing what I could. I was shown in at once, Leslie Stephen was there, Mr. and Mrs. Beesly came. The talk was of Pope, Gladstone, James Payn, 511 on educating authors, Afghanistan and Secocoeni. 512 My heart ached for her -- it was like the Sunday afternoons, without the one who could always shield her from fatigue and come to the rescue in endless ways. I talked, not badly, but I did not see her alone. Last Friday I had one of her remorseful afterthoughts by post, she was afraid she had spoken with needless severity of Overton's 513 literary short-comings, and this gave me the opportunity of delivering my remorseful afterthought. There are so many for her to see -- is it kind to make one more?
MS: Bodleian.
Wednesday 10 December 1879
December 10. On Wednesday (26th) I went to the Priory, she was engaged. Wrote to her to ask what I should do about the offer of divers people to subscribe to the election expenses. She answered accept, and so I ceased to refuse. Then came the election and on Sunday, the 30th I forgot everything except that day last year, and the sadness of her maimed life and the grief that one may share but cannot lessen. I could not bring myself to write to her though I had her note of counsel to acknowledge. The next day brought me a card of affectionate congratulations, and then I went to see her on Wednesday -- after writing what I could. I was shown in at once, Leslie Stephen was there, Mr. and Mrs. Beesly came. The talk was of Pope, Gladstone, James Payn, 511 on educating authors, Afghanistan and Secocoeni. 512 My heart ached for her -- it was like the Sunday afternoons, without the one who could always shield her from fatigue and come to the rescue in endless ways. I talked, not badly, but I did not see her alone. Last Friday I had one of her remorseful afterthoughts by post, she was afraid she had spoken with needless severity of Overton's 513 literary short-comings, and this gave me the opportunity of delivering my remorseful afterthought. There are so many for her to see -- is it kind to make one more?
Citation
Edith Simcox, Edith Simcox, Autobiography, 10 December 1879, Complete George Eliot Letters(2026), George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed September 7, 2026. https://georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/91768