GE to Mrs. William Cross, Blackbrook, 11 October 1873
Title
GE to Mrs. William Cross, Blackbrook, 11 October 1873
Title
GE to Mrs. William Cross, Blackbrook, 11 October 1873
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Mrs. William Cross
Date(s)
- 1873-10-11
Place
Blackbrook
Letter Content
GE to Mrs. William Cross, Blackbrook, 11 October 1873
MS: Tinker Collection, Yale. Extracts published: Cross, III, 213-214.
Blackbrook | Bickley | Kent | October 11. 73.
Dear Friend
I am rather ashamed of our grumblings. We are really enjoying the country, and have more than our share of everything. George has happy mornings at his desk now, and we have fine bracing air to walk in -- air which I take in as a sort of nectar. It is true that we are feeble, and Mr. Lewes especially is soon tired even of pleasant things; but I suppose we must make up our minds that our average of health will henceforth be low. I am not without hope, however, that Mr. Lewes will by and by [pick up] again as he did three years ago, and in the mean time I am thankful to see him without serious hindrance to happy activity -- and also able to relish the game which good friends send him.
We like the bits of scenery round us better and better as we get them by heart in our walks and drives. And I regret more and more our disappointment in the house which with all its defects is very pretty, and more delightfully secluded without being remote from the conveniences of the world than any place we have before thought of as a possible residence for us. But we could not make it our sole home without having a great sum of money spent on it, and after all, the result of expensive patchings would be uncertain. 852 But these troubles of ours are of the least pitiable kind, and ought rather to be counted as indulgences if they did not cause one to waste some time and thought. I am glad that you have been seeing the Cowper Temples. My knowledge of them has not gone beyond dining with them at Mr. Tollemache's and afterwards having a good conversational call from them, but they both struck me very agreeably as fitting people to have land and money. 853 Mr. Henry Sidgwick is a chief favourite of mine -- one of whom his friends at Cambridge say that they always expect him to act according to a higher standard than they think of attributing to any other chief man or of imposing on themselves. "Though we kept our own fellowships without believing more than he did," one of them said to me, "we should have felt that Henry Sidgwick had fallen short if he had not renounced his." 854
You are sure to see the dear Bowens before we do. Will you give my love to them and tell them that they must try to find us at home before the end of November? -- or rather, that I will write and let them know when we are again at home.
My two tall nephews 855 have promised to come and see us next week, and through them we (you and I) shall interchange a great deal more information about each other than we can write on note-paper.
My best love to Eleanor and Emily whose dear young faces I shall pine to see when the space between us has become less troublesome for them to traverse. The thought of my friends having to take an inconvenient journey for my sake enables me to do better without them, but when they are within easy reach I am inclined to beckon.
I dreamed that I saw you the other night and you were looking as well as when we last parted at the railway station -- your cheeks the colour of a rose-petal. I hope that was a true dream. And I conclude from not hearing the contrary that little Alkie is growing in strength [and] promise. And I have some faith that my constant affectionate remembrance of "Papa" is not without an answering memory in my nephew. Mr. Lewes is writing on the other side of the wall, so I shall not disturb him. But his love always goes with mine, when mine goes towards you, so messages are superfluous.
Yours always
[Signature cut away.]
MS: Tinker Collection, Yale. Extracts published: Cross, III, 213-214.
Blackbrook | Bickley | Kent | October 11. 73.
Dear Friend
I am rather ashamed of our grumblings. We are really enjoying the country, and have more than our share of everything. George has happy mornings at his desk now, and we have fine bracing air to walk in -- air which I take in as a sort of nectar. It is true that we are feeble, and Mr. Lewes especially is soon tired even of pleasant things; but I suppose we must make up our minds that our average of health will henceforth be low. I am not without hope, however, that Mr. Lewes will by and by [pick up] again as he did three years ago, and in the mean time I am thankful to see him without serious hindrance to happy activity -- and also able to relish the game which good friends send him.
We like the bits of scenery round us better and better as we get them by heart in our walks and drives. And I regret more and more our disappointment in the house which with all its defects is very pretty, and more delightfully secluded without being remote from the conveniences of the world than any place we have before thought of as a possible residence for us. But we could not make it our sole home without having a great sum of money spent on it, and after all, the result of expensive patchings would be uncertain. 852 But these troubles of ours are of the least pitiable kind, and ought rather to be counted as indulgences if they did not cause one to waste some time and thought. I am glad that you have been seeing the Cowper Temples. My knowledge of them has not gone beyond dining with them at Mr. Tollemache's and afterwards having a good conversational call from them, but they both struck me very agreeably as fitting people to have land and money. 853 Mr. Henry Sidgwick is a chief favourite of mine -- one of whom his friends at Cambridge say that they always expect him to act according to a higher standard than they think of attributing to any other chief man or of imposing on themselves. "Though we kept our own fellowships without believing more than he did," one of them said to me, "we should have felt that Henry Sidgwick had fallen short if he had not renounced his." 854
You are sure to see the dear Bowens before we do. Will you give my love to them and tell them that they must try to find us at home before the end of November? -- or rather, that I will write and let them know when we are again at home.
My two tall nephews 855 have promised to come and see us next week, and through them we (you and I) shall interchange a great deal more information about each other than we can write on note-paper.
My best love to Eleanor and Emily whose dear young faces I shall pine to see when the space between us has become less troublesome for them to traverse. The thought of my friends having to take an inconvenient journey for my sake enables me to do better without them, but when they are within easy reach I am inclined to beckon.
I dreamed that I saw you the other night and you were looking as well as when we last parted at the railway station -- your cheeks the colour of a rose-petal. I hope that was a true dream. And I conclude from not hearing the contrary that little Alkie is growing in strength [and] promise. And I have some faith that my constant affectionate remembrance of "Papa" is not without an answering memory in my nephew. Mr. Lewes is writing on the other side of the wall, so I shall not disturb him. But his love always goes with mine, when mine goes towards you, so messages are superfluous.
Yours always
[Signature cut away.]
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Mrs. William Cross, Blackbrook, 11 October 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/93713