GHL to The Misses Cross, Witley, 31 July [1877]
Title
GHL to The Misses Cross, Witley, 31 July [1877]
Title
GHL to The Misses Cross, Witley, 31 July [1877]
Sender
George Henry Lewes
Recipient
The Misses Cross
Date(s)
- 1877-07-31
Place
Witley
Letter Content
GHL to The Misses Cross, Witley, 31 July [1877]
MS: Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
There dwelt beside the Weybridge ways 729 (And often called [the Doves]) Maidens who seeking no man's praise Gained everybody's loves.
Their Uncle dwelt on Witley Heights, Who loved these maidens well Though why they ne'er shared his delight Of home -- no man can tell. Was it because he lived retired With brain too much o'ertasked? Or that they ne'er to come desired? Or -- were they never asked?
Dryden confessed that many a rhyme helped him to a thought, 730 and like Dryden I see the rhyme has helped me to the thoughts that perhaps the said maidens never were asked! Oh! Oh! Oh! -- Well now they are. Madonna has been decidedly better these last ten days and we have had Gurneys and Harrisons two days to lunch 731 -- so you see it is high time that the Doves
Thus far had I written when Madonna came into the room and told me Mrs. Harrison said "Mrs. Cross has returned to Weybridge" and might perhaps brave the heat and accompany the Doves! Well, that would be an additional delight. We leave it entirely to her and you girls to fix your day and hours next week (not Monday, though, because of Bank Holiday) and don't care if it is not reasonably fine. 732
Your loving
Uncle.
July 31.
MS: Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
There dwelt beside the Weybridge ways 729 (And often called [the Doves]) Maidens who seeking no man's praise Gained everybody's loves.
Their Uncle dwelt on Witley Heights, Who loved these maidens well Though why they ne'er shared his delight Of home -- no man can tell. Was it because he lived retired With brain too much o'ertasked? Or that they ne'er to come desired? Or -- were they never asked?
Dryden confessed that many a rhyme helped him to a thought, 730 and like Dryden I see the rhyme has helped me to the thoughts that perhaps the said maidens never were asked! Oh! Oh! Oh! -- Well now they are. Madonna has been decidedly better these last ten days and we have had Gurneys and Harrisons two days to lunch 731 -- so you see it is high time that the Doves
Thus far had I written when Madonna came into the room and told me Mrs. Harrison said "Mrs. Cross has returned to Weybridge" and might perhaps brave the heat and accompany the Doves! Well, that would be an additional delight. We leave it entirely to her and you girls to fix your day and hours next week (not Monday, though, because of Bank Holiday) and don't care if it is not reasonably fine. 732
Your loving
Uncle.
July 31.
Signature
Uncle.
Citation
George Henry Lewes, GHL to The Misses Cross, Witley, 31 July [1877], 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/95029