GE to Mrs. William Cross, Boulogne-Sur-Mer, 27 October 1872
Title
GE to Mrs. William Cross, Boulogne-Sur-Mer, 27 October 1872
Title
GE to Mrs. William Cross, Boulogne-Sur-Mer, 27 October 1872
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Mrs. William Cross
Date(s)
- 1872-10-27
Place
Boulogne-Sur-Mer
Letter Content
GE to Mrs. William Cross, Boulogne-Sur-Mer, 27 October 1872
MS: Tinker Collection, Yale. Extracts published: Cross, III, 173-174.
Boulogne-sur-mer October 27. 72.
My dear Mrs. Cross
I had meant to write to you again from Germany to ask if there were any chance of Mr. Hall's meeting us in Paris. But I was hindered from doing so by the uncertainty of our plans, which vacillated between farther wanderings in S. Germany and the usual dreary railway journeying by Strasburg to Paris. As it was, we left Homburg on the 13th and had ten days of delicious autumnal weather and quietude at Stuttgardt and Carlsruhe -- ten days which made the heart of our enjoyment. 614 We still hesitated whether we should go to Augsburg and even Munich, making our way home through Germany and Belgium and turning our shoulders on Paris. Our evil genius persuaded us to go to Paris and to make the journey by night -- whence came headache and horrible disgust with the shops of the Rue de la Paix and the Boulevard. After going to Versailles in the rain, seeing the sad ruins of the H'f4tel de Ville and buying gloves (missing the Theatre Fran'e7ais and getting "Patrie" 615 in exchange) we rushed away to this place where we are trying to recover the sense of benefit from our change, which forsook us on quitting old Germany. We have an affinity for what the world calls "dull places" and always prosper best in them. George became quite rabid towards Paris, and only calmed down a few minutes when we found a comfortable knitted waistcoat with silk sleeves which is what we have been seeking for him these five years. The vices of great capitals are more tolerable when one gets just the thing one wants in them.
I write this to account for my apparent forgetfulness of what was said at Six Mile Bottom about Mr. Hall's joining us. What you said in your last letter about his intention of accompanying Miss Goulden into Yorkshire made me imagine that he had probably quite lost sight of the passing vision we had of some time enjoying the Parisian theatres together. But I am unwilling that he should ever believe me unmindful of what he says -- rather, I hope always to take vivid notice of it, and disagree as well as agree with him, a little disagreement being necessary to perfect friendship.
We are sure to be at home next week and I hope before long to have some news of you there -- some dear faces coming to bring it. We shall linger here a few days and take a favourable time for crossing, but our patience will hardly last beyond Friday. With best love to all,
Ever yours affectionately
M. E. Lewes.
MS: Tinker Collection, Yale. Extracts published: Cross, III, 173-174.
Boulogne-sur-mer October 27. 72.
My dear Mrs. Cross
I had meant to write to you again from Germany to ask if there were any chance of Mr. Hall's meeting us in Paris. But I was hindered from doing so by the uncertainty of our plans, which vacillated between farther wanderings in S. Germany and the usual dreary railway journeying by Strasburg to Paris. As it was, we left Homburg on the 13th and had ten days of delicious autumnal weather and quietude at Stuttgardt and Carlsruhe -- ten days which made the heart of our enjoyment. 614 We still hesitated whether we should go to Augsburg and even Munich, making our way home through Germany and Belgium and turning our shoulders on Paris. Our evil genius persuaded us to go to Paris and to make the journey by night -- whence came headache and horrible disgust with the shops of the Rue de la Paix and the Boulevard. After going to Versailles in the rain, seeing the sad ruins of the H'f4tel de Ville and buying gloves (missing the Theatre Fran'e7ais and getting "Patrie" 615 in exchange) we rushed away to this place where we are trying to recover the sense of benefit from our change, which forsook us on quitting old Germany. We have an affinity for what the world calls "dull places" and always prosper best in them. George became quite rabid towards Paris, and only calmed down a few minutes when we found a comfortable knitted waistcoat with silk sleeves which is what we have been seeking for him these five years. The vices of great capitals are more tolerable when one gets just the thing one wants in them.
I write this to account for my apparent forgetfulness of what was said at Six Mile Bottom about Mr. Hall's joining us. What you said in your last letter about his intention of accompanying Miss Goulden into Yorkshire made me imagine that he had probably quite lost sight of the passing vision we had of some time enjoying the Parisian theatres together. But I am unwilling that he should ever believe me unmindful of what he says -- rather, I hope always to take vivid notice of it, and disagree as well as agree with him, a little disagreement being necessary to perfect friendship.
We are sure to be at home next week and I hope before long to have some news of you there -- some dear faces coming to bring it. We shall linger here a few days and take a favourable time for crossing, but our patience will hardly last beyond Friday. With best love to all,
Ever yours affectionately
M. E. Lewes.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Mrs. William Cross, Boulogne-Sur-Mer, 27 October 1872, 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/93716