GE to Mrs. Mark Pattison, London, 10 August 1869
Title
GE to Mrs. Mark Pattison, London, 10 August 1869
Title
GE to Mrs. Mark Pattison, London, 10 August 1869
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Mrs. Mark Pattison
Date(s)
- 1869-08-10
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Mrs. Mark Pattison, London, 10 August 1869
MS: British Museum. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
August 10. 69.
My dear Mrs. Pattison
It has done me good to have a word from you this morning and to know that you are on the eve of a pleasant journey. I am in danger of forgetting that there is enjoyment, as well as suffering, in the world. Our trouble has deepened suddenly. Our poor boy, since Sunday, has shown the most alarming symptoms of paraplegia and the lower part of the body is at present quite helpless. I have had an especial dread of this, not because of the external difficulties, but because of its effect on the poor boy's own spirit. But I will say no more of our affliction. There is this alleviation -- that it does not extend beyond our own little group.
I feared after you had left us that I had allowed myself an effusiveness (of that dumb sort which is the more apt to come when one has not full opportunity of speech) beyond what was warranted by the short time we had known each other. But in proportion as I profoundly rejoice that I never brought a child into the world, I am conscious of having an unused stock of motherly tenderness, which sometimes overflows, but not without discrimination. In any case, whatever there may have been of too much or too little, excuse, and believe me always
Your sincerely affectionate
M. E. Lewes.
MS: British Museum. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
August 10. 69.
My dear Mrs. Pattison
It has done me good to have a word from you this morning and to know that you are on the eve of a pleasant journey. I am in danger of forgetting that there is enjoyment, as well as suffering, in the world. Our trouble has deepened suddenly. Our poor boy, since Sunday, has shown the most alarming symptoms of paraplegia and the lower part of the body is at present quite helpless. I have had an especial dread of this, not because of the external difficulties, but because of its effect on the poor boy's own spirit. But I will say no more of our affliction. There is this alleviation -- that it does not extend beyond our own little group.
I feared after you had left us that I had allowed myself an effusiveness (of that dumb sort which is the more apt to come when one has not full opportunity of speech) beyond what was warranted by the short time we had known each other. But in proportion as I profoundly rejoice that I never brought a child into the world, I am conscious of having an unused stock of motherly tenderness, which sometimes overflows, but not without discrimination. In any case, whatever there may have been of too much or too little, excuse, and believe me always
Your sincerely affectionate
M. E. Lewes.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Mrs. Mark Pattison, London, 10 August 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/93530