GE to Bessie Rayner Parkes, Richmond, [24 September 1857]
Title
GE to Bessie Rayner Parkes, Richmond, [24 September 1857]
Title
GE to Bessie Rayner Parkes, Richmond, [24 September 1857]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Bessie Rayner Parkes
Date(s)
- 1857-09-24
Place
Richmond
Letter Content
GE to Bessie Rayner Parkes, Richmond, [24 September 1857]
MS: The Countess of Iddesleigh. Envelope: Miss Parkes | 14A Princes Street | Cavendish Square | London. Postmarks: RICHMOND | EV | SP 25 | 1857; 8NT8 | SP 25 | 1857. Hitherto unpublished.
Park Shot | Richmond | Thursday.
Dear Bessie
This letter comes by way of postscript to our interview yesterday.
First, it did me good to see you -- the warm unmistakeable affection in your face was a sweet cordial to me.
Secondly, you must please not call me Miss Evans again. I have renounced that name, and do not mean to be known by it in any way. It is Mr. Lewes's wish that the few friends who care about me should recognize me as Mrs. Lewes, and my Father's Trustee sends me receipts to sign as Marian Lewes, so that my adoption of the name has been made a matter of business. There is not much probability of such a chance as that of your having to introduce me should occur again. But I think it better to write on the subject to you while it is in my memory, to prevent the possibility of a future mistake.
There is another thing I want to say, though perhaps it is superfluous. Mr. Lewes was afraid you would misunderstand my words about "Providence bringing you to Richmond" as an invitation, which it would be quite indelicate in me to give in the present state of our relative circumstances -- i.e. of your circumstances and mine. I don't think you would misunderstand me so far -- you know that I would not for the world have you do anything that should cause "your good to be evil spoken of." 977 I meant that some unforeseen good luck might bring you to Richmond and that I might see you without causing offence to any one.
Ever your loving
Marian E. Lewes.
MS: The Countess of Iddesleigh. Envelope: Miss Parkes | 14A Princes Street | Cavendish Square | London. Postmarks: RICHMOND | EV | SP 25 | 1857; 8NT8 | SP 25 | 1857. Hitherto unpublished.
Park Shot | Richmond | Thursday.
Dear Bessie
This letter comes by way of postscript to our interview yesterday.
First, it did me good to see you -- the warm unmistakeable affection in your face was a sweet cordial to me.
Secondly, you must please not call me Miss Evans again. I have renounced that name, and do not mean to be known by it in any way. It is Mr. Lewes's wish that the few friends who care about me should recognize me as Mrs. Lewes, and my Father's Trustee sends me receipts to sign as Marian Lewes, so that my adoption of the name has been made a matter of business. There is not much probability of such a chance as that of your having to introduce me should occur again. But I think it better to write on the subject to you while it is in my memory, to prevent the possibility of a future mistake.
There is another thing I want to say, though perhaps it is superfluous. Mr. Lewes was afraid you would misunderstand my words about "Providence bringing you to Richmond" as an invitation, which it would be quite indelicate in me to give in the present state of our relative circumstances -- i.e. of your circumstances and mine. I don't think you would misunderstand me so far -- you know that I would not for the world have you do anything that should cause "your good to be evil spoken of." 977 I meant that some unforeseen good luck might bring you to Richmond and that I might see you without causing offence to any one.
Ever your loving
Marian E. Lewes.
Signature
Marian E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Bessie Rayner Parkes, Richmond, [24 September 1857], 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/92064