GE to Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve, London, 26 May 1869
Title
GE to Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve, London, 26 May 1869
Title
GE to Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve, London, 26 May 1869
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve
Date(s)
- 1869-05-26
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve, London, 26 May 1869
Text: Cross, III, 88-89.
That "disturbance" in my favourite work, with which you and Dr Congreve are good enough to sympathise, is unhappily greater now than it has been for years before. Our poor Thornie came back to us about seventeen days ago. We can never rejoice enough that we were already at home, seeing that we held it impossible for him to set out on his voyage until at least six weeks later than he did. Since he arrived, our lives have been chiefly absorbed by cares for him; and though we now have a nurse to attend on him constantly, we spend several hours of the day by his side. 75 There is joy in the midst of our trouble, from the tenderness towards the sufferer being altogether unchecked by anything unlovable in him. Thornie's disposition seems to have become sweeter than ever with the added six years; and there is nothing that we discern in his character or habits to cause us grief. Enough of our troubles. I gather from your welcome letter, received this morning, that there is a good deal of enjoyment for you in your temporary home, in spite of bad weather and face-ache, which I hope will have passed away when you read this.
My Beesley wrote to me to tell me of his engagement, 76 and on Sunday we had the pleasure of shaking him by the hand and seeing him look very happy. He is one of a group of prospective marriages which we have had announced to us since we came home. Besides Mr Harrison's, there is Dr Allbutt's, 77 our charming friend at Leeds. I told Mr Beesley that I thought myself magnanimous in really rejoicing at the engagements of men friends, because, of course, they will be comparatively indifferent to their old intimates.
Dear Madame Bodichon is a precious help to us. She comes twice a-week to sit with Thornie, and she is wonderfully clever in talking to young people. One finds out those who have real practical sympathy in times of trouble.
Text: Cross, III, 88-89.
That "disturbance" in my favourite work, with which you and Dr Congreve are good enough to sympathise, is unhappily greater now than it has been for years before. Our poor Thornie came back to us about seventeen days ago. We can never rejoice enough that we were already at home, seeing that we held it impossible for him to set out on his voyage until at least six weeks later than he did. Since he arrived, our lives have been chiefly absorbed by cares for him; and though we now have a nurse to attend on him constantly, we spend several hours of the day by his side. 75 There is joy in the midst of our trouble, from the tenderness towards the sufferer being altogether unchecked by anything unlovable in him. Thornie's disposition seems to have become sweeter than ever with the added six years; and there is nothing that we discern in his character or habits to cause us grief. Enough of our troubles. I gather from your welcome letter, received this morning, that there is a good deal of enjoyment for you in your temporary home, in spite of bad weather and face-ache, which I hope will have passed away when you read this.
My Beesley wrote to me to tell me of his engagement, 76 and on Sunday we had the pleasure of shaking him by the hand and seeing him look very happy. He is one of a group of prospective marriages which we have had announced to us since we came home. Besides Mr Harrison's, there is Dr Allbutt's, 77 our charming friend at Leeds. I told Mr Beesley that I thought myself magnanimous in really rejoicing at the engagements of men friends, because, of course, they will be comparatively indifferent to their old intimates.
Dear Madame Bodichon is a precious help to us. She comes twice a-week to sit with Thornie, and she is wonderfully clever in talking to young people. One finds out those who have real practical sympathy in times of trouble.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve, London, 26 May 1869, 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/93643