GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, Devizes, 20 November [1843]
Title
GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, Devizes, 20 November [1843]
Title
GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, Devizes, 20 November [1843]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray
Date(s)
- 1843-11-20
Place
Devizes
Letter Content
GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, Devizes, 20 November [1843]
MS: Yale. Extract published: George Eliot and John Chapman, pp. 23-24.
Devizes. Monday | November 20th.
Thank you, meine Liebe for your kind letter, so much longer and earlier than you had allowed me to hope, but it was like you to be better than your promises. I am in a little heaven here, Dr. Brabant being its archangel, but it would be a less complete heaven if the recollection of you were not inwoven in the texture of my happy thoughts. All you tell me is interesting and I entreat that I may have another letter of details even to the health of the kitten. It is a grief that the principalities and powers of Coventry are not likely to smile on the allotment project, 492 but it will prosper in spite of them to their dishonour, or if otherwise you will surely not weep that your husband should work without wages in company with all the world's heroes be they clothed in steel or in superfine broadcloth. Dr. Brabant is gone to Chippenham to meet Mrs. Hennell, 493 and we shall see her probably within an hour. All will be better when the first meeting and parting are over.
Mrs. Brabant is a most affectionate amiable being, too forgetful of herself to talk of her loss, but really feeling it as much as any one. Of the Dr. what shall I say? for the time would fail me to tell of all his charming qualities. We read, walk and talk together, and I am never weary of his company. I have just written to Father to beg for a longer leave of absence than I had thought of when I came, but until I receive his answer I shall be uncertain about the time of my departure. If he should not wish for me sooner, I shall stay to the 13th of December. The journey will be rather formidable to a novice like me. Miss Hughes 494 advises me to go by Cheltenham and Birmingham and I should like the novelty of that plan, but I hope I have yet three weeks to consider about the matter.
I like to think that you are having all sorts of délices now I am away that you may recount them to me when I return to my Lares and yours. I mean to save all narrative for conversation and not forestall myself by telling you any of our sayings and doings in my letters.
The air of Devizes is very invigorating and I believe I am better than when I came, though I lost the first week in getting rid of my rakish languor. I am petted and fed with nice morsels and pretty speeches until I am in danger of becoming even more conceited than ever, and I shall want a month's mortification to make me endurable. Now then you know my whole status, and do you send me a letter just as full of Ichheit or I shall be wofully disappointed. I have written as fast as my pen
[The rest of this letter has not been found.]
MS: Yale. Extract published: George Eliot and John Chapman, pp. 23-24.
Devizes. Monday | November 20th.
Thank you, meine Liebe for your kind letter, so much longer and earlier than you had allowed me to hope, but it was like you to be better than your promises. I am in a little heaven here, Dr. Brabant being its archangel, but it would be a less complete heaven if the recollection of you were not inwoven in the texture of my happy thoughts. All you tell me is interesting and I entreat that I may have another letter of details even to the health of the kitten. It is a grief that the principalities and powers of Coventry are not likely to smile on the allotment project, 492 but it will prosper in spite of them to their dishonour, or if otherwise you will surely not weep that your husband should work without wages in company with all the world's heroes be they clothed in steel or in superfine broadcloth. Dr. Brabant is gone to Chippenham to meet Mrs. Hennell, 493 and we shall see her probably within an hour. All will be better when the first meeting and parting are over.
Mrs. Brabant is a most affectionate amiable being, too forgetful of herself to talk of her loss, but really feeling it as much as any one. Of the Dr. what shall I say? for the time would fail me to tell of all his charming qualities. We read, walk and talk together, and I am never weary of his company. I have just written to Father to beg for a longer leave of absence than I had thought of when I came, but until I receive his answer I shall be uncertain about the time of my departure. If he should not wish for me sooner, I shall stay to the 13th of December. The journey will be rather formidable to a novice like me. Miss Hughes 494 advises me to go by Cheltenham and Birmingham and I should like the novelty of that plan, but I hope I have yet three weeks to consider about the matter.
I like to think that you are having all sorts of délices now I am away that you may recount them to me when I return to my Lares and yours. I mean to save all narrative for conversation and not forestall myself by telling you any of our sayings and doings in my letters.
The air of Devizes is very invigorating and I believe I am better than when I came, though I lost the first week in getting rid of my rakish languor. I am petted and fed with nice morsels and pretty speeches until I am in danger of becoming even more conceited than ever, and I shall want a month's mortification to make me endurable. Now then you know my whole status, and do you send me a letter just as full of Ichheit or I shall be wofully disappointed. I have written as fast as my pen
[The rest of this letter has not been found.]
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, Devizes, 20 November [1843], 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/93235