GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Gorey, [14 July 1857]
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Gorey, [14 July 1857]
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Gorey, [14 July 1857]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1857-07-14
Place
Gorey
Letter Content
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Gorey, [14 July 1857]
MS: Yale. Endorsed: July 17. 1857. Hitherto unpublished.
Rosa Cottage Gorey | Tuesday Evening.
Dear Sara
I do answer your letters because there are things I want to say.
First, we shall be at Park Shot, Richmond again, on the 16th 929 July. If, as is very likely, the rest of the house should be full, we can make you a comfortable bed for a night in Mr. Lewes's dressing room, which is in fact a bedroom as soon as there are sheets on the bed. I don't ask you to stay with us because, as we have no superfluity of rooms or of time, that would hamper us in our work. But it would be a real delight to me if you could take us in your way to or from the Carters. 930 I say just the truth, because you used always to like that.
Secondly, I have written to Mr. Holbeche, my Father's trustee telling him the whole truth as far as essentials -- that our marriage is not a legal one though we both regard it as sacred, why Mr. Lewes cannot contract a legal marriage, how long it is since I have been his wife and borne his name, and why I have withheld the fact from my family. I dare say I shall never have any further correspondence with my brother, which will be a great relief to me. So now there is nothing to be concealed from any one, and the greatest service my friends can do is to tell the truth in contradiction to false rumours.
No more now, because it is evening and we are going to carry the letters to post.
Ever yours
Marian.
MS: Yale. Endorsed: July 17. 1857. Hitherto unpublished.
Rosa Cottage Gorey | Tuesday Evening.
Dear Sara
I do answer your letters because there are things I want to say.
First, we shall be at Park Shot, Richmond again, on the 16th 929 July. If, as is very likely, the rest of the house should be full, we can make you a comfortable bed for a night in Mr. Lewes's dressing room, which is in fact a bedroom as soon as there are sheets on the bed. I don't ask you to stay with us because, as we have no superfluity of rooms or of time, that would hamper us in our work. But it would be a real delight to me if you could take us in your way to or from the Carters. 930 I say just the truth, because you used always to like that.
Secondly, I have written to Mr. Holbeche, my Father's trustee telling him the whole truth as far as essentials -- that our marriage is not a legal one though we both regard it as sacred, why Mr. Lewes cannot contract a legal marriage, how long it is since I have been his wife and borne his name, and why I have withheld the fact from my family. I dare say I shall never have any further correspondence with my brother, which will be a great relief to me. So now there is nothing to be concealed from any one, and the greatest service my friends can do is to tell the truth in contradiction to false rumours.
No more now, because it is evening and we are going to carry the letters to post.
Ever yours
Marian.
Signature
Marian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Gorey, [14 July 1857], 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/93926