GE to Mrs. Mark Pattison, Limpsfield, 6 November 1869
Title
GE to Mrs. Mark Pattison, Limpsfield, 6 November 1869
Title
GE to Mrs. Mark Pattison, Limpsfield, 6 November 1869
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Mrs. Mark Pattison
Date(s)
- 1869-11-06
Place
Limpsfield
Letter Content
GE to Mrs. Mark Pattison, Limpsfield, 6 November 1869
MS: British Museum. Hitherto unpublished.
Park Farm | Limpsfield | Surrey | November 6. 69.
My dear Mrs. Pattison
On the 19th of October we lost our dear boy. I was so much shattered in mind and body that Mr. Lewes brought me into country solitude as soon as possible and gave orders that no letters should be sent on. It was only this morning that our eldest son forwarded to us such letters as he thought likely to require an answer.
At any other time -- I mean any time when it was not necessary that I should avoid whatever would indirectly as well as directly revive agitation -- I should have been sorry to miss seeing you, sweet friend. But I have been making it my chief duty to recover perfect calmness and bodily strength, and even the reading of some letters this morning has convinced me that it is well to persevere in what seems like selfish seclusion.
You will be coming to town again, but not, I trust, because of anything wrong in your health. Whenever you will write me a word to reassure me about yourself -- that it is nothing serious which sends you to town, be sure that you will be doing me good.
At the end of this month we hope to be "at home," in the sense of being able to see our friends without distressing them by sad haggard faces such as we brought down here.
Mr. Lewes begs to be remembered to and by you, and I am always, dear Mrs. Pattison
Yours affectionately
M. E. Lewes.
MS: British Museum. Hitherto unpublished.
Park Farm | Limpsfield | Surrey | November 6. 69.
My dear Mrs. Pattison
On the 19th of October we lost our dear boy. I was so much shattered in mind and body that Mr. Lewes brought me into country solitude as soon as possible and gave orders that no letters should be sent on. It was only this morning that our eldest son forwarded to us such letters as he thought likely to require an answer.
At any other time -- I mean any time when it was not necessary that I should avoid whatever would indirectly as well as directly revive agitation -- I should have been sorry to miss seeing you, sweet friend. But I have been making it my chief duty to recover perfect calmness and bodily strength, and even the reading of some letters this morning has convinced me that it is well to persevere in what seems like selfish seclusion.
You will be coming to town again, but not, I trust, because of anything wrong in your health. Whenever you will write me a word to reassure me about yourself -- that it is nothing serious which sends you to town, be sure that you will be doing me good.
At the end of this month we hope to be "at home," in the sense of being able to see our friends without distressing them by sad haggard faces such as we brought down here.
Mr. Lewes begs to be remembered to and by you, and I am always, dear Mrs. Pattison
Yours affectionately
M. E. Lewes.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Mrs. Mark Pattison, Limpsfield, 6 November 1869, 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/93528