GE to Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve, Shottermill, 13 July 1871
Title
GE to Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve, Shottermill, 13 July 1871
Title
GE to Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve, Shottermill, 13 July 1871
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve
Date(s)
- 1871-07-13
Place
Shottermill
Letter Content
GE to Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve, Shottermill, 13 July 1871
Text: Cross, III, 134-135.
One word to you in response to Emily's note, which comes to me this morning, and lets me know that by this time she is probably in the last hour of her unmarried life. 317 My thoughts and love and tender anxiety are with her and with all of you. When you receive this she will, I suppose, be far away, and it is of little consequence that I can make no new sign to her of my joy in her joy.
For the next few weeks my anxiety will be concentrated on you and yours at Yarmouth. Pray, when your mind and body are sufficiently free from absorbing occupation, remember my need of news about you, and write to me. The other day I seemed to get a glimpse of you through Mrs Call, who told me that you looked like a new creature -- so much stronger than you were wont: and she told me of Dr Congreve's address at the school, which raised my keenest sympathy, and made me feel myself a very helpless friend.
Please give my love to the children, and tell Sophy 318 especially, that I think her happy in this -- that there is a place made for all the effort of her young life to fill it with something like the goodness and brightness which she has known and has just now to part with. I expect her to be your guardian angel, perhaps in a new way -- namely, in saving you from some fatigue about details.
Text: Cross, III, 134-135.
One word to you in response to Emily's note, which comes to me this morning, and lets me know that by this time she is probably in the last hour of her unmarried life. 317 My thoughts and love and tender anxiety are with her and with all of you. When you receive this she will, I suppose, be far away, and it is of little consequence that I can make no new sign to her of my joy in her joy.
For the next few weeks my anxiety will be concentrated on you and yours at Yarmouth. Pray, when your mind and body are sufficiently free from absorbing occupation, remember my need of news about you, and write to me. The other day I seemed to get a glimpse of you through Mrs Call, who told me that you looked like a new creature -- so much stronger than you were wont: and she told me of Dr Congreve's address at the school, which raised my keenest sympathy, and made me feel myself a very helpless friend.
Please give my love to the children, and tell Sophy 318 especially, that I think her happy in this -- that there is a place made for all the effort of her young life to fill it with something like the goodness and brightness which she has known and has just now to part with. I expect her to be your guardian angel, perhaps in a new way -- namely, in saving you from some fatigue about details.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve, Shottermill, 13 July 1871, 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/93671