GE to Mrs. Elma Stuart, Blackbrook, 17 September 1873
Title
GE to Mrs. Elma Stuart, Blackbrook, 17 September 1873
Title
GE to Mrs. Elma Stuart, Blackbrook, 17 September 1873
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Mrs. Elma Stuart
Date(s)
- 1873-09-17
Place
Blackbrook
Letter Content
GE to Mrs. Elma Stuart, Blackbrook, 17 September 1873
MS: British Museum. Published: Stuart, pp. 10-12.
Blackbrook | Bickley | Kent | September 17. 73.
My dear Mrs. Stuart
The lovely shawl is come in safety. I suppose that Wordsworth would have rebuked me for calling a shawl [lovely.] But I think the word is allowable in this case, where the exquisite texture seems to my imagination to hold much love in its meshes.
It is really just the sort of garment I delight to wrap myself in -- the utmost warmth compatible with the utmost lightness being my ideal of clothing for my feeble body. Thanks, dear Friend. You have made many pretty epochs for me since that epoch of your first letter, when, as Clotilde de Vaux said of her friend, "J'ai eu le bonheur de vous acqu'e9rir."
My letters are at this moment stuffed in the little letter-case bearing my name, which lies beside me. I never carry a purse in my pocket, because I never go out by myself, but the dear little red purse always lies in my desk where I see it constantly. And now I shall often wrap myself in your affection -- otherwise called my Shetland shawl. (By the way, the brown border is perfect.)
I confess I tremble a little at the prospect of your seeing me in the flesh. At present I have the charms of a [Yarrow Unvisited.]
As to the portrait, 840 I am not one bit like it -- besides it was taken eight years ago. Imagine a first cousin of the old Dante's -- rather smokedried -- a face with lines in it that seem a map of sorrows. These portraits seen beforehand are detestable introductions, only less disadvantageous than a description given by an ardent friend to one who is neither a friend nor ardent.
But it would be sad if one's books were not the best of one, seeing that they reach farther and last (it is to be hoped) longer than the personality they went out from.
I need say no more now, since we shall soon see you. Only let me thank you once more for all the sweet affection you have manifested towards me, and the valued words you have written me about your own experience so far as it has drawn your heart towards me. Such things are among my reasons for being glad that I have lived.
Mr. Lewes and I are keeping a warm welcome for you. We have often observed that Solomon's wise admonition is rarely applied except by those who are the least in danger of being wearisome. The real bore, alas, never dreads boring you. In expectation
Yours maternally
M. E. Lewes.
MS: British Museum. Published: Stuart, pp. 10-12.
Blackbrook | Bickley | Kent | September 17. 73.
My dear Mrs. Stuart
The lovely shawl is come in safety. I suppose that Wordsworth would have rebuked me for calling a shawl [lovely.] But I think the word is allowable in this case, where the exquisite texture seems to my imagination to hold much love in its meshes.
It is really just the sort of garment I delight to wrap myself in -- the utmost warmth compatible with the utmost lightness being my ideal of clothing for my feeble body. Thanks, dear Friend. You have made many pretty epochs for me since that epoch of your first letter, when, as Clotilde de Vaux said of her friend, "J'ai eu le bonheur de vous acqu'e9rir."
My letters are at this moment stuffed in the little letter-case bearing my name, which lies beside me. I never carry a purse in my pocket, because I never go out by myself, but the dear little red purse always lies in my desk where I see it constantly. And now I shall often wrap myself in your affection -- otherwise called my Shetland shawl. (By the way, the brown border is perfect.)
I confess I tremble a little at the prospect of your seeing me in the flesh. At present I have the charms of a [Yarrow Unvisited.]
As to the portrait, 840 I am not one bit like it -- besides it was taken eight years ago. Imagine a first cousin of the old Dante's -- rather smokedried -- a face with lines in it that seem a map of sorrows. These portraits seen beforehand are detestable introductions, only less disadvantageous than a description given by an ardent friend to one who is neither a friend nor ardent.
But it would be sad if one's books were not the best of one, seeing that they reach farther and last (it is to be hoped) longer than the personality they went out from.
I need say no more now, since we shall soon see you. Only let me thank you once more for all the sweet affection you have manifested towards me, and the valued words you have written me about your own experience so far as it has drawn your heart towards me. Such things are among my reasons for being glad that I have lived.
Mr. Lewes and I are keeping a warm welcome for you. We have often observed that Solomon's wise admonition is rarely applied except by those who are the least in danger of being wearisome. The real bore, alas, never dreads boring you. In expectation
Yours maternally
M. E. Lewes.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Mrs. Elma Stuart, Blackbrook, 17 September 1873, 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/93382