GE to Maria Lewis, Griff, 26 May 1838
Title
GE to Maria Lewis, Griff, 26 May 1838
Title
GE to Maria Lewis, Griff, 26 May 1838
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Maria Lewis
Date(s)
- 1838-05-26
Place
GRIFF
Letter Content
GE to Maria Lewis, Griff, 26 May 1838
MS: Yale. Address: Miss Lewis | The Revd L. Harper's | Burton Latimer | Northamptonshire. Postmark: COVENTRY | MY 27 | 1838. Hitherto unpublished.
Griff May 26th 1838. | Saturday Evening.
My dear Miss Lewis /
I have in vain waited for an opportunity of reminding you of myself in a more modest way than that I am adopting, and to which I have been enticed by hearing Miss Ball say that you meditate a trip to Nuneaton at Midsummer. Can I persuade you to devote to me, or rather, let me devote to you a part of those holidays? You know my circumstances, which I feel to be most inattractive, especially to one who has visited my home in brighter days; indeed it seems to savour of vanity to invite a friend when I have no society but my own to offer, and no amusement farther than a book, a walk, and a dialogue, things that may be had elsewhere of a much better kind. All I can say is will you come, and will it be any relaxation to you to spend I will not say how long, as long a time as you can with me? If so I assure you I shall be truly pleased to have you, and I am sure I may say the same of my father and brother.
By the bye you have not seen my dear sister since she has been doubled and now she is tripled! 63 Yes, I assure you I am a very important personage, I am aunt to a very handsome boy! It is now nearly a month since he was presented to me, and his Christening is to take place next Thursday. I know you will be glad to hear that Chrissey is wonderfully well, a blessing that calls for much gratitude. Truly may change be called our only certainty; may our experience of the fact lead us feelingly to join in that beautiful collect 64 which closes with praying that amidst all the changes of this transitory life, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found. You have had a change of a trying nature since we met, the loss of a dear friend, but I trust you may safely apply the comfort the apostle gives to those whose friends sleep in Jesus, and that you have real warranty for not sorrowing as without hope.
I have written in the midst of interruptions, and a headache makes me feel quite incapable of filling my sheet, indeed if I could not improve on my style I think you would rather I said good bye at once. I have been mentally while writing making a parody on two lines of Young's -- Tutors and governesses are awful names Whoever wear them challenge our devoir. 65
My letter does not look as if I felt this, it is so sadly untidy, but what I have told you must excuse it.
Hoping to have a letter telling me when to expect you, I beg you to believe me, My dear Miss Lewis.
Yours very affectionately,
Mary Ann Evans.
MS: Yale. Address: Miss Lewis | The Revd L. Harper's | Burton Latimer | Northamptonshire. Postmark: COVENTRY | MY 27 | 1838. Hitherto unpublished.
Griff May 26th 1838. | Saturday Evening.
My dear Miss Lewis /
I have in vain waited for an opportunity of reminding you of myself in a more modest way than that I am adopting, and to which I have been enticed by hearing Miss Ball say that you meditate a trip to Nuneaton at Midsummer. Can I persuade you to devote to me, or rather, let me devote to you a part of those holidays? You know my circumstances, which I feel to be most inattractive, especially to one who has visited my home in brighter days; indeed it seems to savour of vanity to invite a friend when I have no society but my own to offer, and no amusement farther than a book, a walk, and a dialogue, things that may be had elsewhere of a much better kind. All I can say is will you come, and will it be any relaxation to you to spend I will not say how long, as long a time as you can with me? If so I assure you I shall be truly pleased to have you, and I am sure I may say the same of my father and brother.
By the bye you have not seen my dear sister since she has been doubled and now she is tripled! 63 Yes, I assure you I am a very important personage, I am aunt to a very handsome boy! It is now nearly a month since he was presented to me, and his Christening is to take place next Thursday. I know you will be glad to hear that Chrissey is wonderfully well, a blessing that calls for much gratitude. Truly may change be called our only certainty; may our experience of the fact lead us feelingly to join in that beautiful collect 64 which closes with praying that amidst all the changes of this transitory life, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found. You have had a change of a trying nature since we met, the loss of a dear friend, but I trust you may safely apply the comfort the apostle gives to those whose friends sleep in Jesus, and that you have real warranty for not sorrowing as without hope.
I have written in the midst of interruptions, and a headache makes me feel quite incapable of filling my sheet, indeed if I could not improve on my style I think you would rather I said good bye at once. I have been mentally while writing making a parody on two lines of Young's -- Tutors and governesses are awful names Whoever wear them challenge our devoir. 65
My letter does not look as if I felt this, it is so sadly untidy, but what I have told you must excuse it.
Hoping to have a letter telling me when to expect you, I beg you to believe me, My dear Miss Lewis.
Yours very affectionately,
Mary Ann Evans.
Signature
Mary Ann Evans.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Maria Lewis, Griff, 26 May 1838, 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/92909