GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, London, [November 1870]
Title
GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, London, [November 1870]
Title
GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, London, [November 1870]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon
Date(s)
- 1870-11
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, London, [November 1870]
MS: Mr. Philip Leigh-Smith. Published: Cross, III, 123-124, dated November 1870.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
Thursday.
Dearest B.
Lying awake early in the morning according to a bad practice of mine, I was visited with much compunction and self-disgust that I had ever said a word to you about the faults of a friend whose good qualities are made the more sacred by the endurance his lot has in many ways demanded. I think you may fairly set down a full half of my alleged grievances to my own susceptibility and other faults of mine which necessarily call forth less agreeable manifestations from others than as many virtues would do, if I had them. I trust to your good sense to have judged well, in spite of my errors in the presentation of any matter. But I wish to protest against myself, that I may as much as possible cut off the temptations to what I should like utterly to purify myself from for the few remaining years of my life 236 -- the disposition to dwell for a moment on the faults of a friend.
Always thine
M. E. L.
Tell the flower and fern-giver, whoever it may be, that some strength comes to me this morning from the pretty proof of sympathy.
MS: Mr. Philip Leigh-Smith. Published: Cross, III, 123-124, dated November 1870.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
Thursday.
Dearest B.
Lying awake early in the morning according to a bad practice of mine, I was visited with much compunction and self-disgust that I had ever said a word to you about the faults of a friend whose good qualities are made the more sacred by the endurance his lot has in many ways demanded. I think you may fairly set down a full half of my alleged grievances to my own susceptibility and other faults of mine which necessarily call forth less agreeable manifestations from others than as many virtues would do, if I had them. I trust to your good sense to have judged well, in spite of my errors in the presentation of any matter. But I wish to protest against myself, that I may as much as possible cut off the temptations to what I should like utterly to purify myself from for the few remaining years of my life 236 -- the disposition to dwell for a moment on the faults of a friend.
Always thine
M. E. L.
Tell the flower and fern-giver, whoever it may be, that some strength comes to me this morning from the pretty proof of sympathy.
Signature
M. E. L.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, London, [November 1870], 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/93014