GE to Fanny [Mrs. Henry] Houghton, St. Mary's, 3 May 1857
Title
GE to Fanny [Mrs. Henry] Houghton, St. Mary's, 3 May 1857
Title
GE to Fanny [Mrs. Henry] Houghton, St. Mary's, 3 May 1857
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Fanny [Mrs. Henry] Houghton
Date(s)
- 1857-05-03
Place
St. Mary's
Letter Content
GE to Fanny [Mrs. Henry] Houghton, St. Mary's, 3 May 1857
Text: Typed copy made for Miss Elsie Druce, Yale.
St. Mary's, Scilly Isles | May 3rd 1857.
Dear Fanny,
Thank you very fervently for sending me Sarah's letters about Chrissy, 314 which both reached me together, last night. I have suffered a great deal from the long intervals that have elapsed between the letters I have received. Until yours came I had not heard since the 22nd when I received a letter from Isaac written on the 19th saying that Chrissy was worse and in great danger! But I can well understand that both he and Sarah have their hands and minds too full to retain a very vivid recollection of those at a distance. Poor Sarah has had a terrible trial.
You too, dear Fanny have had your special trouble; now, I trust being rapidly alleviated. I am grieved both for Henry's sake and yours that his general health is so delicate.
Thank you for your kind question about my health. I can say nothing good of myself in that respect. For several months I have been very ailing and have found my necessary work difficult. But I hope to get strong again with care and not become a troublesome invalid. My writing prospers, which is a great happiness to me, and opens a brighter prospect than I have ever had in my life before, but everything depends on my health.
I do not understand your allusion to Isaac's having said that he had received no answer from me. I have always answered punctually every letter that required answering. But the postal communication hither and back again is terribly slow -- only twice a week.
You have not sent me your address, so that I am reduced to the magnificent vagueness of [Leamington] as a direction. I hope you are the only Mrs. Henry Houghton there.
Once more, dear Fanny thank you for writing to me and taking some of the load off my heart. It has been a heavy load indeed, but I do not like to write useless words about such things.
With kindest remembrances to Henry, I am always, dear Fanny,
Your affectionate sister
Marian.
Text: Typed copy made for Miss Elsie Druce, Yale.
St. Mary's, Scilly Isles | May 3rd 1857.
Dear Fanny,
Thank you very fervently for sending me Sarah's letters about Chrissy, 314 which both reached me together, last night. I have suffered a great deal from the long intervals that have elapsed between the letters I have received. Until yours came I had not heard since the 22nd when I received a letter from Isaac written on the 19th saying that Chrissy was worse and in great danger! But I can well understand that both he and Sarah have their hands and minds too full to retain a very vivid recollection of those at a distance. Poor Sarah has had a terrible trial.
You too, dear Fanny have had your special trouble; now, I trust being rapidly alleviated. I am grieved both for Henry's sake and yours that his general health is so delicate.
Thank you for your kind question about my health. I can say nothing good of myself in that respect. For several months I have been very ailing and have found my necessary work difficult. But I hope to get strong again with care and not become a troublesome invalid. My writing prospers, which is a great happiness to me, and opens a brighter prospect than I have ever had in my life before, but everything depends on my health.
I do not understand your allusion to Isaac's having said that he had received no answer from me. I have always answered punctually every letter that required answering. But the postal communication hither and back again is terribly slow -- only twice a week.
You have not sent me your address, so that I am reduced to the magnificent vagueness of [Leamington] as a direction. I hope you are the only Mrs. Henry Houghton there.
Once more, dear Fanny thank you for writing to me and taking some of the load off my heart. It has been a heavy load indeed, but I do not like to write useless words about such things.
With kindest remembrances to Henry, I am always, dear Fanny,
Your affectionate sister
Marian.
Signature
Marian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Fanny [Mrs. Henry] Houghton, St. Mary's, 3 May 1857, 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/94234