GE to Fanny [Mrs. Henry] Houghton, Geneva, 6 September 1849
Title
GE to Fanny [Mrs. Henry] Houghton, Geneva, 6 September 1849
Title
GE to Fanny [Mrs. Henry] Houghton, Geneva, 6 September 1849
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Fanny [Mrs. Henry] Houghton
Date(s)
- 1849-09-06
Place
Geneva
Letter Content
GE to Fanny [Mrs. Henry] Houghton, Geneva, 6 September 1849
Text: Cross, I, 219-221.
Have I confided too much in your generosity in supposing that you would write to me first? or is there some other reason for your silence? I suffer greatly from it -- not entirely from selfish reasons, but in great part because I am really anxious to know all about you, your state of health and spirits -- the aspect of things within and without you.
Did Mr. Bray convey to you my earnest request that you would write to me? You know of my whereabouts and circumstances from my good friends at Roseholl, so that I have little to tell you, -- at least I have not spirit to write of myself until I have heard from you, and have an assurance from yourself that you yet care about me. Sarah has sent me word of the sad, sad loss that has befallen poor Chrissey and Edward, -- a loss in which I feel that I have a share; for that angelic little being had great interest for me -- she promised to pay so well for any care spent on her. I can imagine poor Edward's almost frantic grief, and I dread the effect on Chrissey's weak frame of her more silent suffering. Anything you can tell me about them will be read very eagerly.
I begin to feel the full value of a letter, -- so much so, that if ever I am convinced that any one has the least anxiety to hear from me, I shall always reckon it amongst the first duties to sit down without delay, giving no ear to the suggestions of my idleness and aversion to letter-writing. Indeed I am beginning to find it really pleasant to write to my friends, now that I am so far away from them; and I could soon fill a sheet to you if your silence did not weigh too heavily on my heart. My health is by no means good yet -- seldom good enough not to be a sort of drag on my mind; so you must make full allowance for too much egotism and susceptibility in me. It seems to be three years instead of three months since I was in England and amongst you, and I imagine that all sorts of revolutions must have taken place in the interim; whereas to you, I daresay, remaining in your old home and among your everyday duties, the time has slipped away so rapidly that you are unable to understand my anxiety to hear from you. I think the climate here is not particularly healthy, -- I suppose from the vicinity of the lake, which, however, becomes so dear to one that one cannot bear to hear it accused. Good-bye, dear Fanny; a thousand blessings to you whether you write to me or not, and much gratitude if you do.
Text: Cross, I, 219-221.
Have I confided too much in your generosity in supposing that you would write to me first? or is there some other reason for your silence? I suffer greatly from it -- not entirely from selfish reasons, but in great part because I am really anxious to know all about you, your state of health and spirits -- the aspect of things within and without you.
Did Mr. Bray convey to you my earnest request that you would write to me? You know of my whereabouts and circumstances from my good friends at Roseholl, so that I have little to tell you, -- at least I have not spirit to write of myself until I have heard from you, and have an assurance from yourself that you yet care about me. Sarah has sent me word of the sad, sad loss that has befallen poor Chrissey and Edward, -- a loss in which I feel that I have a share; for that angelic little being had great interest for me -- she promised to pay so well for any care spent on her. I can imagine poor Edward's almost frantic grief, and I dread the effect on Chrissey's weak frame of her more silent suffering. Anything you can tell me about them will be read very eagerly.
I begin to feel the full value of a letter, -- so much so, that if ever I am convinced that any one has the least anxiety to hear from me, I shall always reckon it amongst the first duties to sit down without delay, giving no ear to the suggestions of my idleness and aversion to letter-writing. Indeed I am beginning to find it really pleasant to write to my friends, now that I am so far away from them; and I could soon fill a sheet to you if your silence did not weigh too heavily on my heart. My health is by no means good yet -- seldom good enough not to be a sort of drag on my mind; so you must make full allowance for too much egotism and susceptibility in me. It seems to be three years instead of three months since I was in England and amongst you, and I imagine that all sorts of revolutions must have taken place in the interim; whereas to you, I daresay, remaining in your old home and among your everyday duties, the time has slipped away so rapidly that you are unable to understand my anxiety to hear from you. I think the climate here is not particularly healthy, -- I suppose from the vicinity of the lake, which, however, becomes so dear to one that one cannot bear to hear it accused. Good-bye, dear Fanny; a thousand blessings to you whether you write to me or not, and much gratitude if you do.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Fanny [Mrs. Henry] Houghton, Geneva, 6 September 1849, 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/93496