GE to Mrs. Elma Stuart, London, 29 April 1876
Title
GE to Mrs. Elma Stuart, London, 29 April 1876
Title
GE to Mrs. Elma Stuart, London, 29 April 1876
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Mrs. Elma Stuart
Date(s)
- 1876-04-29
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Mrs. Elma Stuart, London, 29 April 1876
MS: British Museum. Published: Stuart, pp. 52-55.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
April 29. 76.
Dearest Elma
You grieve your mother by dwelling on your innocent bit of hyperbole as if it were a sin. We are not so dull as to require every word to be literal or else to have an elaborate commentary. I am sorry now that I made that drollery about the writing the occasion of a remark which was entirely precautionary, and referred to possible words that might drop from you in the liveliness of conversation, without the least sense of mischief in anything that had been actually said. It was my awkwardness to link my caution about the servant's ear with your innocent exaggeration, which, I observed, had raised a smile. 463
We should have been mere blockheads to have supposed that your words had done any harm, even if you had expressly directed them against book-writing instead of letter-writing. Were we not "present company"? -- and had we not had our patent to write for you? And does not that quick-eared servant know that you think too much of us? So pray dismiss the subject forever from your soul, and save your penitence for a real transgression.
The petticoat is very beautiful, after the beauty of petticoats -- perfect in colour and in texture far better than any bat's wing I have ever been indulged with. It is not par for Elma's presence and tenderness, but it is a pretty message from her.
My ailings having got worse rather than better, Mr. Lewes insisted on sending for Dr. Andrew Clarke, and he is trying to make me less good-for-nothing by feeding me up and making me drink Burgundy. It seems that my usually strong pulse has got sadly flagging.
We were disappointed not to see you again. Thank Roly for his pretty letter to me. I and my other self greet you with warm affection, and shall be glad to have news of you from Scotland.
Always your loving Mother
M. E. Lewes.
Lady Claud Hamilton spoke with pleasure of having seen you, that Sunday you were in Albemarle St.
MS: British Museum. Published: Stuart, pp. 52-55.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
April 29. 76.
Dearest Elma
You grieve your mother by dwelling on your innocent bit of hyperbole as if it were a sin. We are not so dull as to require every word to be literal or else to have an elaborate commentary. I am sorry now that I made that drollery about the writing the occasion of a remark which was entirely precautionary, and referred to possible words that might drop from you in the liveliness of conversation, without the least sense of mischief in anything that had been actually said. It was my awkwardness to link my caution about the servant's ear with your innocent exaggeration, which, I observed, had raised a smile. 463
We should have been mere blockheads to have supposed that your words had done any harm, even if you had expressly directed them against book-writing instead of letter-writing. Were we not "present company"? -- and had we not had our patent to write for you? And does not that quick-eared servant know that you think too much of us? So pray dismiss the subject forever from your soul, and save your penitence for a real transgression.
The petticoat is very beautiful, after the beauty of petticoats -- perfect in colour and in texture far better than any bat's wing I have ever been indulged with. It is not par for Elma's presence and tenderness, but it is a pretty message from her.
My ailings having got worse rather than better, Mr. Lewes insisted on sending for Dr. Andrew Clarke, and he is trying to make me less good-for-nothing by feeding me up and making me drink Burgundy. It seems that my usually strong pulse has got sadly flagging.
We were disappointed not to see you again. Thank Roly for his pretty letter to me. I and my other self greet you with warm affection, and shall be glad to have news of you from Scotland.
Always your loving Mother
M. E. Lewes.
Lady Claud Hamilton spoke with pleasure of having seen you, that Sunday you were in Albemarle St.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Mrs. Elma Stuart, London, 29 April 1876, 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/93408