GE to Mrs. Edward Burne-Jones, London, [14 June 1870]
Title
GE to Mrs. Edward Burne-Jones, London, [14 June 1870]
Title
GE to Mrs. Edward Burne-Jones, London, [14 June 1870]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Mrs. Edward Burne-Jones
Date(s)
- 1870-06-14
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Mrs. Edward Burne-Jones, London, [14 June 1870]
MS: Yale. Endorsed: June 14. 1870. Envelope: Mrs. Burne Jones | The Grange | North End, Fulham | S.W. Postmarks: LONDON-N.W | 5 | JU 14 | 70; LONDON-S.W | JU 14 | 70. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
Tuesday.
Dear Friend
Since I have to sit down to my desk to write other letters, I must indulge myself with saying to you that my words and looks 200 about your coming to Whitby could not have been so cordial as my thoughts, because my face and tongue had on them more weariness from packing than had reached my heart. It will be a real joy to have you and the chicks at Whitby, and I am thinking with delight that you will learn something of my husband's goodness, by seeing him more constantly. I am the Lady Theory, and he is the good Knight Sir Practice, with respect to all sweet virtues.
You must think that I am a terrifically moralizing preaching woman, to keep you at the gate 'e0 propos de bottes, 201 or of a woman whom you don't know, who is therefore still more irrelevant than those familiar boots which have been everybody's starting point. But you will find me anything but too moral on a nearer view, and will rather find yourself in the position of a missionary sent to me, an old sinner at Whitby. At all events come, dear, and you will come to your warm friends.
M. E. Lewes.
MS: Yale. Endorsed: June 14. 1870. Envelope: Mrs. Burne Jones | The Grange | North End, Fulham | S.W. Postmarks: LONDON-N.W | 5 | JU 14 | 70; LONDON-S.W | JU 14 | 70. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
Tuesday.
Dear Friend
Since I have to sit down to my desk to write other letters, I must indulge myself with saying to you that my words and looks 200 about your coming to Whitby could not have been so cordial as my thoughts, because my face and tongue had on them more weariness from packing than had reached my heart. It will be a real joy to have you and the chicks at Whitby, and I am thinking with delight that you will learn something of my husband's goodness, by seeing him more constantly. I am the Lady Theory, and he is the good Knight Sir Practice, with respect to all sweet virtues.
You must think that I am a terrifically moralizing preaching woman, to keep you at the gate 'e0 propos de bottes, 201 or of a woman whom you don't know, who is therefore still more irrelevant than those familiar boots which have been everybody's starting point. But you will find me anything but too moral on a nearer view, and will rather find yourself in the position of a missionary sent to me, an old sinner at Whitby. At all events come, dear, and you will come to your warm friends.
M. E. Lewes.
Signature
M. E. Lewes
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Mrs. Edward Burne-Jones, London, [14 June 1870], 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/93354