GE to Bessie Rayner Parkes, London, 21 April [1854]
Title
GE to Bessie Rayner Parkes, London, 21 April [1854]
Title
GE to Bessie Rayner Parkes, London, 21 April [1854]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Bessie Rayner Parkes
Date(s)
- 1854-04-21
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Bessie Rayner Parkes, London, 21 April [1854]
MS: The Countess of Iddesleigh. Envelope: Miss Parkes | 5 East Parade | Hastings. Postmarks: Berkeley St. West. 1854 | 21 AP 21 | JO; HASTINGS | AP 22 | 1854 | A. Hitherto unpublished.
Cambridge Street | 21 April.
Dear Bessie
I consider your letter, which blessed my aching eyes this morning, as reward for virtue, for I had several times thought during the last three weeks that some cause of coolness or disgust towards me had arisen to prevent you from writing, to tell me how you were, as you volunteered to do. But I said -- Ah well, I have told her that I shall always love her quand m'eame, and I resigned myself to having no other satisfaction than that of thinking about you affectionately. The "discipline" having thus answered its purpose -- came your letter and gladdened my heart. Mr. Chapman had already told me that you were better.
I have had a great deal of health and enjoyment since I parted from you, and am still mentally flourishing; but for the last week I have had a headache, which Sir James Clark says is nervous and can be cured only by rest. My sprawling writing will tell you how hot and shaky my hand is, but I hope nitric acid and taking things quietly for a day or two will set me right.
The evil one has incited the people next door to have the outside of their house painted, which constitutes a small purgatory for me apart from anything else.
Give my kind regards to Miss Evers, if she remembers me, and believe me always
Your loving
Marian.
MS: The Countess of Iddesleigh. Envelope: Miss Parkes | 5 East Parade | Hastings. Postmarks: Berkeley St. West. 1854 | 21 AP 21 | JO; HASTINGS | AP 22 | 1854 | A. Hitherto unpublished.
Cambridge Street | 21 April.
Dear Bessie
I consider your letter, which blessed my aching eyes this morning, as reward for virtue, for I had several times thought during the last three weeks that some cause of coolness or disgust towards me had arisen to prevent you from writing, to tell me how you were, as you volunteered to do. But I said -- Ah well, I have told her that I shall always love her quand m'eame, and I resigned myself to having no other satisfaction than that of thinking about you affectionately. The "discipline" having thus answered its purpose -- came your letter and gladdened my heart. Mr. Chapman had already told me that you were better.
I have had a great deal of health and enjoyment since I parted from you, and am still mentally flourishing; but for the last week I have had a headache, which Sir James Clark says is nervous and can be cured only by rest. My sprawling writing will tell you how hot and shaky my hand is, but I hope nitric acid and taking things quietly for a day or two will set me right.
The evil one has incited the people next door to have the outside of their house painted, which constitutes a small purgatory for me apart from anything else.
Give my kind regards to Miss Evers, if she remembers me, and believe me always
Your loving
Marian.
Signature
Marian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Bessie Rayner Parkes, London, 21 April [1854], Complete George Eliot Letters(2026), George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed September 7, 2026. https://www.georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/92056