GE to Mrs. Edward Burne-Jones, Witley, 26 August 1878
Title
GE to Mrs. Edward Burne-Jones, Witley, 26 August 1878
Title
GE to Mrs. Edward Burne-Jones, Witley, 26 August 1878
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Mrs. Edward Burne-Jones
Date(s)
- 1878-08-26
Place
Witley
Letter Content
GE to Mrs. Edward Burne-Jones, Witley, 26 August 1878
MS: Yale. Extracts published: Cross, III, 332.
The Heights, Witley, | Nr. Godalming.
August 26. 78.
Dearest Mignon
Shall you mind the trouble of writing me a few words of news about you and yours? -- just to let me know how things are with you and deliver me from evil dreams.
We have been so ailing in the midst of our country joys -- first my husband and now myself -- that I need to hear of my friends being well, as a ground for cheerfulness, a bit of sugar in the cup of resignation. You will do a good deed in writing me one of your nice letters, covering all the four pages with a handwriting which is as delightfully readable as your eyes.
Why can't I rest without tormenting you for a letter and doing as I would not be done by? Have patience with my importunity. I am only this morning emerging from a purgatorial state of nausea and headache, in which my images of things are likely to have been worse than the fact. I trust in you, but not very much in Providence who is understood to arrange our health and fortunes. So [give me some] assurance [that Fortu]ne has been treating you all well.
Phil, I suppose, is at home, and perhaps you have been having some change of air with him. Perhaps this fine summer has been altogether delightful to you. Let me know this good, and satisfy the thirsty sponge of my affection. If you object to my phrase please observe that it is Dantesque 129 -- which will oblige you to find it admirable.
[Signature cut away.]
MS: Yale. Extracts published: Cross, III, 332.
The Heights, Witley, | Nr. Godalming.
August 26. 78.
Dearest Mignon
Shall you mind the trouble of writing me a few words of news about you and yours? -- just to let me know how things are with you and deliver me from evil dreams.
We have been so ailing in the midst of our country joys -- first my husband and now myself -- that I need to hear of my friends being well, as a ground for cheerfulness, a bit of sugar in the cup of resignation. You will do a good deed in writing me one of your nice letters, covering all the four pages with a handwriting which is as delightfully readable as your eyes.
Why can't I rest without tormenting you for a letter and doing as I would not be done by? Have patience with my importunity. I am only this morning emerging from a purgatorial state of nausea and headache, in which my images of things are likely to have been worse than the fact. I trust in you, but not very much in Providence who is understood to arrange our health and fortunes. So [give me some] assurance [that Fortu]ne has been treating you all well.
Phil, I suppose, is at home, and perhaps you have been having some change of air with him. Perhaps this fine summer has been altogether delightful to you. Let me know this good, and satisfy the thirsty sponge of my affection. If you object to my phrase please observe that it is Dantesque 129 -- which will oblige you to find it admirable.
[Signature cut away.]
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Mrs. Edward Burne-Jones, Witley, 26 August 1878, 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/93371