GE to Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve, London, 15 April 1873
Title
GE to Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve, London, 15 April 1873
Title
GE to Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve, London, 15 April 1873
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve
Date(s)
- 1873-04-15
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve, London, 15 April 1873
Text: Cross, III, 201-202.
Welcome back to Europe! What a comfort to see your handwriting dated from San Remo -- to think that Dr Congreve's anxieties about your voyage are at an end, and that you are once more in the post which is more specially and permanently yours! Mr Lewes finds fault with your letter for not telling enough; but the mere fact of your safety seems to fill it quite full for me, and I can think of no drawbacks -- not even of the cold, which I hope is by this time passing away for you, as it is for us. You must be so rich in memories that we and our small ordinary news must appear very flat to you, but we will submit to be a little despised by you if only we can have you with us again. I have never lost the impression of Dr Congreve's look when he paid us his farewell visit, 769 and spoke of his anxiety about your voyage, fearing that you had started too late; and that impression gives me all the keener sympathy with the repose I trust he is feeling. About ourselves I have only good news to tell. We are happier than ever, and have no troubles. We are searching for a country house to go to at the end of May or earlier. I long for the perfect peace and freedom of the country again. The hours seem to stretch themselves there, and to hold twice as much thought as one can get into them in town, where acquaintances and small claims inevitably multiply.
Imagine us nearly as we were when we last saw you -- only a little older -- with unchanged affection for you, and undimmed interest in whatever befalls you. Do not tax yourself to write unless you feel a pleasure in that imperfect sort of communication. I will try not to fear evil if you are silent, but you know that I am glad to have something more than hope to feed on.
Text: Cross, III, 201-202.
Welcome back to Europe! What a comfort to see your handwriting dated from San Remo -- to think that Dr Congreve's anxieties about your voyage are at an end, and that you are once more in the post which is more specially and permanently yours! Mr Lewes finds fault with your letter for not telling enough; but the mere fact of your safety seems to fill it quite full for me, and I can think of no drawbacks -- not even of the cold, which I hope is by this time passing away for you, as it is for us. You must be so rich in memories that we and our small ordinary news must appear very flat to you, but we will submit to be a little despised by you if only we can have you with us again. I have never lost the impression of Dr Congreve's look when he paid us his farewell visit, 769 and spoke of his anxiety about your voyage, fearing that you had started too late; and that impression gives me all the keener sympathy with the repose I trust he is feeling. About ourselves I have only good news to tell. We are happier than ever, and have no troubles. We are searching for a country house to go to at the end of May or earlier. I long for the perfect peace and freedom of the country again. The hours seem to stretch themselves there, and to hold twice as much thought as one can get into them in town, where acquaintances and small claims inevitably multiply.
Imagine us nearly as we were when we last saw you -- only a little older -- with unchanged affection for you, and undimmed interest in whatever befalls you. Do not tax yourself to write unless you feel a pleasure in that imperfect sort of communication. I will try not to fear evil if you are silent, but you know that I am glad to have something more than hope to feed on.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve, London, 15 April 1873, 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/93621