GHL to Arthur Helps, London, 21 February 1861
Title
GHL to Arthur Helps, London, 21 February 1861
Title
GHL to Arthur Helps, London, 21 February 1861
Sender
George Henry Lewes
Recipient
Arthur Helps
Date(s)
- 1861-02-21
Place
London
Letter Content
GHL to Arthur Helps, London, 21 February 1861
MS: Nuneaton Public Library. Published: Correspondence of Sir Arthur Helps, ed. E. A. Helps., 1917, pp. 243-244.
16, Blandford Square, | N.W.
1 February 61.
My dear Helps
The gods were not propitious to me yesterday and would not let me see you. I came to congratulate you (if you wished it) on the completion of your arduous and important book 527; though I have some doubts whether it ought to be all congratulation for I think you will sadly miss the companion of so many years. One never likes to say finis. In spite of the trouble and vexation I dare say you already begin to feel a void left. Nor am I at all sure that your readers compound for the idea of not having more such volumes, or the poor reflection that at any rate the work is complete. The only satisfactory reflection is that we shall have other works, -- and the more because they won't be so expensive of time as this was.
I hope you are in tolerable strength and spirits. I don't ask you to write and say so, knowing your faint fondness for letters. -- By the way, if ever you don't want a solitary dinner and don't want the bore of a club, please drop in here at 'bd past 5 and take what you find; or come in for an hour some evening when you feel sociable and not too tired to talk. We are always at home; and there is no one, literally no one, whom we both see with such pleasure. -- On the other hand if you don't like moving after the fatigue of the day we won't reproach you for not coming.
I long for these dreary months to be over, and pant for Italy once more.
I was with Carlyle the other day -- grimmer than ever. 528
Yours faithfully
G. H. Lewes.
MS: Nuneaton Public Library. Published: Correspondence of Sir Arthur Helps, ed. E. A. Helps., 1917, pp. 243-244.
16, Blandford Square, | N.W.
1 February 61.
My dear Helps
The gods were not propitious to me yesterday and would not let me see you. I came to congratulate you (if you wished it) on the completion of your arduous and important book 527; though I have some doubts whether it ought to be all congratulation for I think you will sadly miss the companion of so many years. One never likes to say finis. In spite of the trouble and vexation I dare say you already begin to feel a void left. Nor am I at all sure that your readers compound for the idea of not having more such volumes, or the poor reflection that at any rate the work is complete. The only satisfactory reflection is that we shall have other works, -- and the more because they won't be so expensive of time as this was.
I hope you are in tolerable strength and spirits. I don't ask you to write and say so, knowing your faint fondness for letters. -- By the way, if ever you don't want a solitary dinner and don't want the bore of a club, please drop in here at 'bd past 5 and take what you find; or come in for an hour some evening when you feel sociable and not too tired to talk. We are always at home; and there is no one, literally no one, whom we both see with such pleasure. -- On the other hand if you don't like moving after the fatigue of the day we won't reproach you for not coming.
I long for these dreary months to be over, and pant for Italy once more.
I was with Carlyle the other day -- grimmer than ever. 528
Yours faithfully
G. H. Lewes.
Signature
G. H. Lewes.
Citation
George Henry Lewes, GHL to Arthur Helps, London, 21 February 1861, 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/94435