GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Wandsworth, [30 December 1859]
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Wandsworth, [30 December 1859]
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Wandsworth, [30 December 1859]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1859-12-30
Place
Wandsworth
Letter Content
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Wandsworth, [30 December 1859]
MS: Yale. Endorsed: Dec. 30. 1859. Extracts published: Cross, II, 150-151.
Holly Lodge | Friday.
Dear Sara
I don't like Christmas to go by without sending you a greeting, though I have really nothing to say beyond that. We spent our Christmas day with the Congreves, shutting up our house and taking our servant and Pug with us -- and so we ate our Turkey and plum-pudding in very social joyous fashion with those charming friends. Mr. Bridges, 441 who was there, told us that Dr. Chapman's business is to be turned into a Limited Liability Cy; but I dare say you know all about that, and have been asked to take shares.
What a touching picture that is of Harriet with her friend! 442 -- giving her the bed and the best bits. I am sorry to hear about the change of lodgings, though, for I fear that will cause you extra anxieties.
I dare say, you are having young parties and inventing Christmas shows, which you do so well -- as befits a house where there is a blooming young face, in its early teens. We shall have our young face next Christmas -- and we are meditating a flight to Italy when my present work is done, as our last bit of vagrancy for a long, long while. We should only stay two months, doing nothing but absorb; and then we should return through Switzerland and bring Charlie home with us.
I don't think I have anything else to tell, except that we, being very happy, wish all mortals to be in like condition, and especially the mortals we know in the flesh. So you will understand that our hearts are saying "a happy new year to you" when you come down on Sunday morning. Human happiness is a web with many threads of pain [in] it -- that is always sub auditum. "Twist ye, twine ye, even so" etc. 443
Ever your faithful
Marian.
MS: Yale. Endorsed: Dec. 30. 1859. Extracts published: Cross, II, 150-151.
Holly Lodge | Friday.
Dear Sara
I don't like Christmas to go by without sending you a greeting, though I have really nothing to say beyond that. We spent our Christmas day with the Congreves, shutting up our house and taking our servant and Pug with us -- and so we ate our Turkey and plum-pudding in very social joyous fashion with those charming friends. Mr. Bridges, 441 who was there, told us that Dr. Chapman's business is to be turned into a Limited Liability Cy; but I dare say you know all about that, and have been asked to take shares.
What a touching picture that is of Harriet with her friend! 442 -- giving her the bed and the best bits. I am sorry to hear about the change of lodgings, though, for I fear that will cause you extra anxieties.
I dare say, you are having young parties and inventing Christmas shows, which you do so well -- as befits a house where there is a blooming young face, in its early teens. We shall have our young face next Christmas -- and we are meditating a flight to Italy when my present work is done, as our last bit of vagrancy for a long, long while. We should only stay two months, doing nothing but absorb; and then we should return through Switzerland and bring Charlie home with us.
I don't think I have anything else to tell, except that we, being very happy, wish all mortals to be in like condition, and especially the mortals we know in the flesh. So you will understand that our hearts are saying "a happy new year to you" when you come down on Sunday morning. Human happiness is a web with many threads of pain [in] it -- that is always sub auditum. "Twist ye, twine ye, even so" etc. 443
Ever your faithful
Marian.
Signature
Marian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Wandsworth, [30 December 1859], 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/94122