GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, Wandsworth, [18 September 1860]
Title
GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, Wandsworth, [18 September 1860]
Title
GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, Wandsworth, [18 September 1860]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray
Date(s)
- 1860-09-18
Place
Wandsworth
Letter Content
GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, Wandsworth, [18 September 1860]
MS: Yale. Endorsed: 1860. Extract published: Cross, II, 265, dated July.
Holly Lodge | Tuesday Evening.
Dear Cara
I am sincerely obliged to Miss Marshall for her thoughtful kindness in writing me out a list of the tradespeople near Gloucester Gate. I have laid the list carefully by, for we may go into that vicinity after all; but at present our deliberations and mutations have ended in our taking a furnished house, by way of trial how far we can bear a town residence. We shrank from fixing ourselves in a rather expensive house for three years until we had made this preliminary experiment. We move next Monday, and after that, our address will be No. 10, Harewood Square.
My troubles are all of an entirely superficial kind -- mere miseries of moving; and I only asked for pity playfully. I am ashamed of my readiness to make grievances, when I think of other people's real cares. And I do think of them -- dream of them sometimes. I seemed to be dreaming all last night of you. I can enter so thoroughly into your longing for rest from money cares. It is pleasant to know, at least, that the house at Sydenham is well let. We made our journey thither on Saturday, and the country looked so beautiful under the sunshine that I rather envied the people who could manage to live there. Charley enjoyed the treat very much, but I should have felt the day more fruitful if we could have seen you as well as the superabundant sights of another kind.
Our big boy is a great delight to us and makes our home doubly cheery. It is very sweet as one gets old to have some young life about one. He is quite a passionate musician, and we play Beethoven duets with increasing appetite every evening. The opportunity of hearing some inspiring music is one of the chief benefits we hope for, to counter-balance our loss of the wide common and the fields.
Will you tell Mr. Bray, with my love, that I hope he will not be disagreeably surprised to receive a parcel of old clothes from me, if, in the course of packing, I find any turning up. I sent him a very shabby lot for his prot'e9g'e9s, in the spring.
Do write and tell me, dear Cara, whenever you get a little relieved from present anxieties and annoyances. I can only hear of you in that direct way, and I often spend a good deal of "tissue" in conjecture about you. With love to Sara
Ever yours affectionately
M. E. L.
Will you also tell Mr. Bray that now the strike has ceased I find myself neglecting to read the Herald, so that I need not trouble the official further who sends it to "Miss Lewes." Many thanks for the copies I have had. 631
MS: Yale. Endorsed: 1860. Extract published: Cross, II, 265, dated July.
Holly Lodge | Tuesday Evening.
Dear Cara
I am sincerely obliged to Miss Marshall for her thoughtful kindness in writing me out a list of the tradespeople near Gloucester Gate. I have laid the list carefully by, for we may go into that vicinity after all; but at present our deliberations and mutations have ended in our taking a furnished house, by way of trial how far we can bear a town residence. We shrank from fixing ourselves in a rather expensive house for three years until we had made this preliminary experiment. We move next Monday, and after that, our address will be No. 10, Harewood Square.
My troubles are all of an entirely superficial kind -- mere miseries of moving; and I only asked for pity playfully. I am ashamed of my readiness to make grievances, when I think of other people's real cares. And I do think of them -- dream of them sometimes. I seemed to be dreaming all last night of you. I can enter so thoroughly into your longing for rest from money cares. It is pleasant to know, at least, that the house at Sydenham is well let. We made our journey thither on Saturday, and the country looked so beautiful under the sunshine that I rather envied the people who could manage to live there. Charley enjoyed the treat very much, but I should have felt the day more fruitful if we could have seen you as well as the superabundant sights of another kind.
Our big boy is a great delight to us and makes our home doubly cheery. It is very sweet as one gets old to have some young life about one. He is quite a passionate musician, and we play Beethoven duets with increasing appetite every evening. The opportunity of hearing some inspiring music is one of the chief benefits we hope for, to counter-balance our loss of the wide common and the fields.
Will you tell Mr. Bray, with my love, that I hope he will not be disagreeably surprised to receive a parcel of old clothes from me, if, in the course of packing, I find any turning up. I sent him a very shabby lot for his prot'e9g'e9s, in the spring.
Do write and tell me, dear Cara, whenever you get a little relieved from present anxieties and annoyances. I can only hear of you in that direct way, and I often spend a good deal of "tissue" in conjecture about you. With love to Sara
Ever yours affectionately
M. E. L.
Will you also tell Mr. Bray that now the strike has ceased I find myself neglecting to read the Herald, so that I need not trouble the official further who sends it to "Miss Lewes." Many thanks for the copies I have had. 631
Signature
M. E. L.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, Wandsworth, [18 September 1860], 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/93326