GE to Frederic Harrison, London, 6 June 1869
Title
GE to Frederic Harrison, London, 6 June 1869
Title
GE to Frederic Harrison, London, 6 June 1869
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Frederic Harrison
Date(s)
- 1869-06-06
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Frederic Harrison, London, 6 June 1869
MS: Tinker Collection, Yale. Envelope: Frederic Harrison Esq. | 7 New Square | Lincolns Inn | Postmarks: LONDON-N.W | 7 | JU 7 | 69; LONDON-W.C | NA | JU7 | 69. Extracts published: Cross, III, 89-90.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
June 6. 69.
My dear Mr. Harrison
Your letter has fulfilled two wishes of mine. It shows me that you keep me in your kind thoughts, and that you are very happy. I had been told by our friends, the Nortons, of your engagement, but I knew nothing more than that bare fact, and your letter gives me more of a picture. A very pretty picture -- for I like to think of your love having grown imperceptibly along with sweet family affections: I do heartily share in your happiness, for however space and time may keep us asunder, you will never to my mind be lost in the distance, but will hold a place of marked and valued interest, quite apart from those more public hopes about you which I shall not cease to cherish.
Both Mr. Lewes and I shall be delighted to see you any evening in the week now, for we are not only kept at home but kept also from any consecutive occupation by a sad family trouble. Mr. Lewes's second son, a fine young man of 25, is laid prostrate by a spinal injury and absorbs more than half our time. When he is not in pain, he is very eager for conversation and all such variety as he can have in his sick room. We have been so much shaken by this new trouble that we hardly know whether our journey did us good that may still be traced in our bodily or mental states.
I imagine that when you are obliged to stay in town the evening will be the easiest time for you to get out to us. Any time after eight you will find us thoroughly glad to shake hands with you. Do come, when you can.
Always yours most sincerely
M. E. Lewes.
Frederic Harrison Esq.
MS: Tinker Collection, Yale. Envelope: Frederic Harrison Esq. | 7 New Square | Lincolns Inn | Postmarks: LONDON-N.W | 7 | JU 7 | 69; LONDON-W.C | NA | JU7 | 69. Extracts published: Cross, III, 89-90.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
June 6. 69.
My dear Mr. Harrison
Your letter has fulfilled two wishes of mine. It shows me that you keep me in your kind thoughts, and that you are very happy. I had been told by our friends, the Nortons, of your engagement, but I knew nothing more than that bare fact, and your letter gives me more of a picture. A very pretty picture -- for I like to think of your love having grown imperceptibly along with sweet family affections: I do heartily share in your happiness, for however space and time may keep us asunder, you will never to my mind be lost in the distance, but will hold a place of marked and valued interest, quite apart from those more public hopes about you which I shall not cease to cherish.
Both Mr. Lewes and I shall be delighted to see you any evening in the week now, for we are not only kept at home but kept also from any consecutive occupation by a sad family trouble. Mr. Lewes's second son, a fine young man of 25, is laid prostrate by a spinal injury and absorbs more than half our time. When he is not in pain, he is very eager for conversation and all such variety as he can have in his sick room. We have been so much shaken by this new trouble that we hardly know whether our journey did us good that may still be traced in our bodily or mental states.
I imagine that when you are obliged to stay in town the evening will be the easiest time for you to get out to us. Any time after eight you will find us thoroughly glad to shake hands with you. Do come, when you can.
Always yours most sincerely
M. E. Lewes.
Frederic Harrison Esq.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Frederic Harrison, London, 6 June 1869, 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/92415