GHL to Robert Lytton, London, 18 September 1871
Title
GHL to Robert Lytton, London, 18 September 1871
Title
GHL to Robert Lytton, London, 18 September 1871
Sender
George Henry Lewes
Recipient
Robert Lyt
Date(s)
- 1871-09-18
Place
London
Letter Content
GHL to Robert Lytton, London, 18 September 1871
MS: Lady Hermione Cobbold.
The Priory, | North Bank, | Regents Park.
September 1871.
My dear Lytton
For several days before we left our cottage I had made a knot in my mind to write to you to learn how you (especially Edith) were bearing up under your trials, and with what health you were awaiting the calm of resignation. The calm does come -- but much depends on health.
In spite of my resolution and of Polly's reminders I never could exactly find the time when I had the energy or the energy when I had the time to write, and I now leave her sickbed (by her injunction) to do what should have been done before. When I say her sickbed you must not imagine anything serious, though yesterday I was alarmed about her for in spite of two doctors 52 she got worse and what seemed at first a slight illness threatened to be a serious dysentery. However she passed a good night, awoke free from fever, and today is decidedly convalescent, having begun with a cup of beef tea and half a cup of carrot soup.
I am raised to the post of Nurse in ordinary and while seated on her bed quietly chatting as Nurses are wont (and are wanted) to do she again recurred to that "sweet dear Mrs. Lytton whom you have never written to" -- so struck by the reproach I said: "I'll go and write now." "Do!" she said: and I did it.
I know letter writing is no task to you and therefore I have no hesitation in asking you to tell us all about yourselves; where you are, and how you get through the days. We left Haslemere on the 1st having seen no one but the Tennysons, who [The rest of this letter is lacking.]
MS: Lady Hermione Cobbold.
The Priory, | North Bank, | Regents Park.
September 1871.
My dear Lytton
For several days before we left our cottage I had made a knot in my mind to write to you to learn how you (especially Edith) were bearing up under your trials, and with what health you were awaiting the calm of resignation. The calm does come -- but much depends on health.
In spite of my resolution and of Polly's reminders I never could exactly find the time when I had the energy or the energy when I had the time to write, and I now leave her sickbed (by her injunction) to do what should have been done before. When I say her sickbed you must not imagine anything serious, though yesterday I was alarmed about her for in spite of two doctors 52 she got worse and what seemed at first a slight illness threatened to be a serious dysentery. However she passed a good night, awoke free from fever, and today is decidedly convalescent, having begun with a cup of beef tea and half a cup of carrot soup.
I am raised to the post of Nurse in ordinary and while seated on her bed quietly chatting as Nurses are wont (and are wanted) to do she again recurred to that "sweet dear Mrs. Lytton whom you have never written to" -- so struck by the reproach I said: "I'll go and write now." "Do!" she said: and I did it.
I know letter writing is no task to you and therefore I have no hesitation in asking you to tell us all about yourselves; where you are, and how you get through the days. We left Haslemere on the 1st having seen no one but the Tennysons, who [The rest of this letter is lacking.]
Citation
George Henry Lewes, GHL to Robert Lytton, London, 18 September 1871, 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/95003