GE to Mrs. Elma Stuart, London, 15 November 1878
Title
GE to Mrs. Elma Stuart, London, 15 November 1878
Title
GE to Mrs. Elma Stuart, London, 15 November 1878
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Mrs. Elma Stuart
Date(s)
- 1878-11-15
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Mrs. Elma Stuart, London, 15 November 1878
MS: British Museum. Published: Stuart, pp. 118-120.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
November 15. 78.
Dearest Elma
We returned only last night from Brighton, to which medley of fashion and religion we had rather unwillingly gone while our servants moved and got this house ready for us. 147 When we arrived I found your parcel-full of love in the shape of the blue Jacket and the cherishing muffetees. I never saw anything so cozy for the wrists as this product of the poor little rabbits and industrious fingers conjointly. And the Jacket just fits, and is [elegant] as well as comfortable.
Your 2d letter to Witley put me in better spirits about you with its rather more detailed news, and I shall live (if I live at all) in hope that you will get comfortably through the winter at some pleasant Southern place. But please let me know where and how you are, and use no false tenderness of concealment. I say false meaning mistaken, and you know why with me silence about your trouble is mistaken -- because my imagination is often sadder than destiny.
The Slippers that came by post attracted me particularly, and I was full of vanity at the idea of wearing them. But Nemesis smiled grimly at me when I tried to put them on and found them too small! I am not apparently the Cinderella that has a right to anything so pretty.
Mr. Lewes has been sadly during our Hotel days at Brighton, 148 and has been tormented with headache from looking over letters and parcels too hurriedly on his return. But he is getting better at this hour -- 4 o'clock -- and I hope will soon be brightly enjoying our own ingle nook.
The news about Roly's success under the military examination is very cheering. I suppose he will join you in the South at Christmas. Give our love to him and congratulations, and to sweet Mrs. Menzies our affectionate regards -- our wishes that she may be as happy in her life as she makes others to be. For wherever a good, lovely woman moves she makes the world the better for her presence, just as certain other kinds of women are as fatal as malaria.
We are not quite settled yet -- half our books and little personal matters being still unpacked. But I write at once, lest you should be starting from Dinan, and you will overlook a rather fluttered and scrambling way of saying what I want to say as my blessing on your journey. Mr. Lewes sends his love with mine.
Always your faithful
Mother.
MS: British Museum. Published: Stuart, pp. 118-120.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
November 15. 78.
Dearest Elma
We returned only last night from Brighton, to which medley of fashion and religion we had rather unwillingly gone while our servants moved and got this house ready for us. 147 When we arrived I found your parcel-full of love in the shape of the blue Jacket and the cherishing muffetees. I never saw anything so cozy for the wrists as this product of the poor little rabbits and industrious fingers conjointly. And the Jacket just fits, and is [elegant] as well as comfortable.
Your 2d letter to Witley put me in better spirits about you with its rather more detailed news, and I shall live (if I live at all) in hope that you will get comfortably through the winter at some pleasant Southern place. But please let me know where and how you are, and use no false tenderness of concealment. I say false meaning mistaken, and you know why with me silence about your trouble is mistaken -- because my imagination is often sadder than destiny.
The Slippers that came by post attracted me particularly, and I was full of vanity at the idea of wearing them. But Nemesis smiled grimly at me when I tried to put them on and found them too small! I am not apparently the Cinderella that has a right to anything so pretty.
Mr. Lewes has been sadly during our Hotel days at Brighton, 148 and has been tormented with headache from looking over letters and parcels too hurriedly on his return. But he is getting better at this hour -- 4 o'clock -- and I hope will soon be brightly enjoying our own ingle nook.
The news about Roly's success under the military examination is very cheering. I suppose he will join you in the South at Christmas. Give our love to him and congratulations, and to sweet Mrs. Menzies our affectionate regards -- our wishes that she may be as happy in her life as she makes others to be. For wherever a good, lovely woman moves she makes the world the better for her presence, just as certain other kinds of women are as fatal as malaria.
We are not quite settled yet -- half our books and little personal matters being still unpacked. But I write at once, lest you should be starting from Dinan, and you will overlook a rather fluttered and scrambling way of saying what I want to say as my blessing on your journey. Mr. Lewes sends his love with mine.
Always your faithful
Mother.
Signature
Mother.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Mrs. Elma Stuart, London, 15 November 1878, 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/93395