GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, 2 February [1863]
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, 2 February [1863]
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, 2 February [1863]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1863-02-02
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, 2 February [1863]
MS: Yale. Extract published: Cross, II, 349.
Blandford Sq. | February 2. 62.
Dear Sara
The letter with the one word in it, like a whisper of sympathy, lay on my plate when I went down to lunch this morning. The generous movement that made you send it has gladdened me all day.
I have had a great deal of pretty encouragement from immense big-wigs, some of them saying Romola is the finest book they ever read; 132 but the opinion of big-wigs has one sort of value, and the fellow-feeling of a long-known friend has another. One can't do quite well without both. -- En revanche I am a feeble wretch, with eyes that threaten to get blood-shot on the slightest provocation. We made a rush to Dorking for a day or two, 133 and the quiet and fresh air seemed to make a new creature of me, but when we get back to town, town-sensations return. In March we mean to go for a fortnight or three weeks, for there is a charming, comfortable hotel there, and the nearness to town makes it easy to fetch anything or come back on the shortest notice.
Charlie is going this month to Switzerland for his holiday -- his one holiday in the year, poor fellow! I shall not regret his absence just now because it will make our quiet more absolute. 134 I write about ourselves, you see, having nothing to write about you except questions.
That Routledge business vexed and disappointed me -- I am sure you will tell me, when you can, that some arrangement has been made promising a more satisfactory result to Cara after all her labour. 135 You will come to London again shall you not, in the bright Spring time, instead of coming after your usual choice in the time of mud and fog? It is just the way to get a dreary view of all things to come to town in such weather as we had in November. "Says he, you little nigger, don't you do dat again!"
I think I have seen Miss Hilary Carter or a sister who is very much like her, trudging backwards and forwards to No. 5 as if she were lodging there for the time being. If it is Miss Carter, I think she is grown younger instead of older.
Ever yours
Pollian.
MS: Yale. Extract published: Cross, II, 349.
Blandford Sq. | February 2. 62.
Dear Sara
The letter with the one word in it, like a whisper of sympathy, lay on my plate when I went down to lunch this morning. The generous movement that made you send it has gladdened me all day.
I have had a great deal of pretty encouragement from immense big-wigs, some of them saying Romola is the finest book they ever read; 132 but the opinion of big-wigs has one sort of value, and the fellow-feeling of a long-known friend has another. One can't do quite well without both. -- En revanche I am a feeble wretch, with eyes that threaten to get blood-shot on the slightest provocation. We made a rush to Dorking for a day or two, 133 and the quiet and fresh air seemed to make a new creature of me, but when we get back to town, town-sensations return. In March we mean to go for a fortnight or three weeks, for there is a charming, comfortable hotel there, and the nearness to town makes it easy to fetch anything or come back on the shortest notice.
Charlie is going this month to Switzerland for his holiday -- his one holiday in the year, poor fellow! I shall not regret his absence just now because it will make our quiet more absolute. 134 I write about ourselves, you see, having nothing to write about you except questions.
That Routledge business vexed and disappointed me -- I am sure you will tell me, when you can, that some arrangement has been made promising a more satisfactory result to Cara after all her labour. 135 You will come to London again shall you not, in the bright Spring time, instead of coming after your usual choice in the time of mud and fog? It is just the way to get a dreary view of all things to come to town in such weather as we had in November. "Says he, you little nigger, don't you do dat again!"
I think I have seen Miss Hilary Carter or a sister who is very much like her, trudging backwards and forwards to No. 5 as if she were lodging there for the time being. If it is Miss Carter, I think she is grown younger instead of older.
Ever yours
Pollian.
Signature
Pollian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, 2 February [1863], 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/94009