GHL to Mrs. George James Howard, London, [2 November 1874]
Title
GHL to Mrs. George James Howard, London, [2 November 1874]
Title
GHL to Mrs. George James Howard, London, [2 November 1874]
Sender
George Henry Lewes
Recipient
Mrs. George James Howard
Date(s)
- 1874-11-02
Place
London
Letter Content
GHL to Mrs. George James Howard, London, [2 November 1874]
MS: Mr. George Howard.
The Priory | Monday.
Dear Mrs. Howard
You were right to count upon our sympathy and real distress at the sad tidings of your letter. What you must have gone through makes us both tremble to think of. There is a streak of sunshine however in the closing sentences; and we hope it may not be inconvenient to you and improper for him to receive us one day on your passage through town. You mustn't think of coming to us -- just drop a card to name day and hour and we will come to you.
As for your silence and your hope of forgiveness -- "forgiveness"? What was there to forgive? Is not my paternal affection robust enough to see or invent excuses for any silence? We did at first [wonder] whether you had received my letter -- it might not have been forwarded and the thought that you might perhaps be ill or have your house full of guests who claimed attention was quite enough ground for silence. I could not be so poor spirited as to suppose there was either indifference or forgetfulness in the case.
The only scrap we heard of you was from Mignon 257 telling us of her husband's illness, of George's offer to go with him to Egypt and your generous readiness to part with him on such an occasion; and as we only returned home on Saturday, we could hear nothing more.
I have a heap of letters to write so won't say a word more of ourselves than that we have come home prepared for the season's fatigues. Mrs. Lewes sends her love to you and the dear sufferer, and counts on hearing of a continued improvement.
Ever yours faithfully
G. H. Lewes.
MS: Mr. George Howard.
The Priory | Monday.
Dear Mrs. Howard
You were right to count upon our sympathy and real distress at the sad tidings of your letter. What you must have gone through makes us both tremble to think of. There is a streak of sunshine however in the closing sentences; and we hope it may not be inconvenient to you and improper for him to receive us one day on your passage through town. You mustn't think of coming to us -- just drop a card to name day and hour and we will come to you.
As for your silence and your hope of forgiveness -- "forgiveness"? What was there to forgive? Is not my paternal affection robust enough to see or invent excuses for any silence? We did at first [wonder] whether you had received my letter -- it might not have been forwarded and the thought that you might perhaps be ill or have your house full of guests who claimed attention was quite enough ground for silence. I could not be so poor spirited as to suppose there was either indifference or forgetfulness in the case.
The only scrap we heard of you was from Mignon 257 telling us of her husband's illness, of George's offer to go with him to Egypt and your generous readiness to part with him on such an occasion; and as we only returned home on Saturday, we could hear nothing more.
I have a heap of letters to write so won't say a word more of ourselves than that we have come home prepared for the season's fatigues. Mrs. Lewes sends her love to you and the dear sufferer, and counts on hearing of a continued improvement.
Ever yours faithfully
G. H. Lewes.
Signature
G. H. Lewes.
Citation
George Henry Lewes, GHL to Mrs. George James Howard, London, [2 November 1874], 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/94957