The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-05-08
SUBSCRIPTIONS 4:
A WOMAN's PLEA.
What George Eliot Said About Her Re-
IatiOn to Lewes.

Letter in Cross Life of George Elliott
If there is any one action or relation of
my life which is. and always has been,
profoundly serious, it Is my relation to
Mr.. Lewes 1t is, however. natural
enough that you should mistake me in
many ways, for not only are you unac-
quainted with Mr.. Lewes' real character
and the course of his actions, but also it is
several years now since you and / were
much together, and it is possible that the
notifications my mind has undergone
may be quite in the opposite direction of
what you imagine
No one can be better aware than your
self that it is possible for two people to
hold different opinions on momentOus
subjects with equal sincerity, and an
equally earnest conviction that their re-
spective opinions are alone the truly moral
ones If we differ on the subject
of the marriage laws. l at least
can believe of you that you Cleave to
what you believe to be good; and l don't
know of anything in the nature of your
views that should prevent you from believ-
ing the same of me. How far we differ l
think we neither of us know, for am
ignorant of your precise views; and, APP
parently, you attribute to me both feelings
and opinions which are not mine.
We cannot set each other quite
right in this matter in letters,
but one thing l can tell you in few
words Light and easily broken ties are
what l neither desire theoretically nor
could live for practically. Women who
are satisfied with such ties do not act as /
have done.
That any unworthy, interpretations
person who is sufficiently acquainted with
the realities of life can pronounce my re-
lation to Mr. Lewes immoral, can only
understand by remembering how subtitle
and complex are the influences that
mould opinion. But do remember this
and indulge in no arrogant or uncharit
able thoughts about those who condemn
us. even though we might have expected
a somewhat different verdict. From the
looked for anything but condemna-
ton We are leading no life
of selfindulgence, except, indeed, that,
being happy in each other, we find every
thing easy. We are working hard to pro-
vide for others better than we provide for
ourselves, and SO fulfill every responsible
ity that lies upon us. Levity and pride
would not be sufficient basis for that.
Pardon me if, in indicating myself from
unjust conclusions, / seem too cold and
self asserting | should not care to vindt-
cate myself If l did not love you and de-
sire to relieve you of the pain which you
say these conclusions have given you
w hateVer may have mlSlnIerpreteQ De-
fore, l do not misinterpret your letter
this morning. but read in it nothing else
than love and kindness towards me, to
which my heart fully answers yes.
/ should like never to write about my
self again: it is not healthy to dwell on
ones feelings and conduct, but only to try
and i've more faithfully and lovingly
every fresh day. l think not one of the
endless words and deeds of
kindness and forbearance you
have ever shown me has van
ished from my memory. IreCall them
often, and feel as about everything else
in the past, how deficient l have been in
almost every relation of my life. But
that deficiency is irrevocable. and l can
find no strength or comfort except in
pressing forward towards the things that
are before. and trying to make the
present better than the past But If we
should never be very near each other
again, dear Cara, do bear this faith in
your mind, that | was not insensible or
ungrateful to all your goodness, and that
l am one among the many for whom you
have not lived in vain. l am very busy
just now, and have been obliged to write
hastily. Bear this in mind and believe
that no meaning is mine which contradicts
my assurance that am your affectionate
and earnest friend.