GE to Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve, London, 20 September 1868

Title

GE to Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve, London, 20 September 1868

Title

GE to Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve, London, 20 September 1868

Sender

George Eliot

Recipient

Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve

Date(s)

  • 1868-09-20

Place

London

Letter Content

GE to Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve, London, 20 September 1868
Text: Cross, III, 58.
This note comes to greet you on your return home, but it cannot greet you so sweetly as your letter did me on our arrival from Leeds last night. I think it gave me a deeper pleasure than any I have had for a long while. I am very grateful to you for it.
We went to Leeds on Monday, and stayed two days with Dr Allbutt. Dr Bridges dined with us one day, and we had a great deal of delightful chat. 813 But I will tell you everything when we see you. Let that be soon -- will you not? We shall be glad of any arrangement that will give us the pleasure of seeing you, Dr Congreve, and Emily, either separately or all together. Please forgive me if I seem very fussy about your all coming. I want you to understand that we shall feel it the greatest kindness in you if you will all choose to come, and also choose how to come -- either to lunch or dinner, and either apart or all together. I hope to find that you are much the better for your journey -- better both in body and soul. One has immense need of encouragement, but it seems to come more easily from the dead than from the living.

Citation

George Eliot, GE to Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve, London, 20 September 1868, 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/93634