GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, 5 June 1866
Title
GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, 5 June 1866
Title
GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, 5 June 1866
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray
Date(s)
- 1866-06-05
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, 5 June 1866
MS: Yale. Endorsed: 1866. Extracts published: Cross, II, 431.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
June 5. 66.
My dear Cara
We start on Thursday! I finished writing on the last day of May, after days and nights of throbbing and palpitation -- chiefly I suppose from a nervous excitement which I was not strong enough to support well. As soon as I had done and read the last page to George, I felt better, and have been a new creature ever since, though a little overdone with visits from friends and attention (miserabile dictu!) to petticoats etc.
Along with your letter the post brought me a very kind one from Rufa, written under the supposition that I must already know of her father's death. 477 It is not wonderful that I was in ignorance, for I have no acquaintances who know anything of our Bath friends.
I can't help being a little vexed that the course of things hinders my having the great delight of seeing you again -- during this visit to town. Now that my mind is quite free, I don't know anything I should have chosen sooner than to have a long, long quiet day with you.
Will you give my best love to Sara when you write to her and tell her that if my hands had been less demanded by all sorts of women's affairs I should have written a parting word of love to her.
After you left me, I had a good deal of regret that in explaining about my sending Mr. Spencer's letter to Mr. Smith I dwelt on that view of the subject which had the aspect of self-justification. In reality, my chief -- my lasting feeling about the matter is, that I am grieved to have made a mistake, and I am convinced that I acted ill-advisedly in sending it without a direct authorization. Pray tell Mr. Bray this, and that I hope my mistake in this affair will not prevent him from trusting me again when there is a chance that I can be of service. It is true, however, that I do not believe there would have been any difference in the issue, if I had not sent the letter.
Bless you, dear Cara. Believe me always,
Your affectionate
Marian.
MS: Yale. Endorsed: 1866. Extracts published: Cross, II, 431.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
June 5. 66.
My dear Cara
We start on Thursday! I finished writing on the last day of May, after days and nights of throbbing and palpitation -- chiefly I suppose from a nervous excitement which I was not strong enough to support well. As soon as I had done and read the last page to George, I felt better, and have been a new creature ever since, though a little overdone with visits from friends and attention (miserabile dictu!) to petticoats etc.
Along with your letter the post brought me a very kind one from Rufa, written under the supposition that I must already know of her father's death. 477 It is not wonderful that I was in ignorance, for I have no acquaintances who know anything of our Bath friends.
I can't help being a little vexed that the course of things hinders my having the great delight of seeing you again -- during this visit to town. Now that my mind is quite free, I don't know anything I should have chosen sooner than to have a long, long quiet day with you.
Will you give my best love to Sara when you write to her and tell her that if my hands had been less demanded by all sorts of women's affairs I should have written a parting word of love to her.
After you left me, I had a good deal of regret that in explaining about my sending Mr. Spencer's letter to Mr. Smith I dwelt on that view of the subject which had the aspect of self-justification. In reality, my chief -- my lasting feeling about the matter is, that I am grieved to have made a mistake, and I am convinced that I acted ill-advisedly in sending it without a direct authorization. Pray tell Mr. Bray this, and that I hope my mistake in this affair will not prevent him from trusting me again when there is a chance that I can be of service. It is true, however, that I do not believe there would have been any difference in the issue, if I had not sent the letter.
Bless you, dear Cara. Believe me always,
Your affectionate
Marian.
Signature
Marian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, 5 June 1866, 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/93308