The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1885-04-17
A woMAN's PLEA
What George Eliot Said About Her Rela-
tiou to Lewes.

tion to Lewes.
Letter in Cross Life of George Eliot
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. It is, however, natural
enough that you should mistake me in
many ways, for not only are you mac
quainted with Mr.. Lewes' real charac-
ter and the sense of his actions, but also
it is seven years now since you and l
we're much together, and it is possible
that the notifications my mind has un-
dergone may be quite in the opposite
direction of what you imagine.
No one can be better aware than
yourself that it is possible for two people
to hold different opinions on momen-
tous subjects with equal sincerity, and
an equally earnest conviction that their
respective opinions are alone the truly
moral ones. If we differ on the subject
of the marriage laws / at least can be-
lieve 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 believing
the same of me. How far we differ 1
think we neither of us know, for / am
ignorant Of your precise views; and,
apparently you attribute to me both feel
ings and opinions which are not mine.
We cannot set each other quite right in
this matter in letters, but one thing /
can tell you in few words. Light and
easily broken ties are what / neither de-
sire theoretically nor could live for
practically. Women who are satisfied
with such ties act as / have done.
That any unworthy, interpretations
person who is sufficiently acquainted
with the realities of life can pronounce
my relation to Mr.. Lewes immoral, /
can only understand by remembering
how subtle and complex are the infiu-
ences that mould opinion. But / do re-
member this, and / indulge in no arro-
giant or uncharitable thoughts about
those who condemn us, even though
we might have expected Q somewhat
different verdict. From the majority
of persons, Of course, we never looked
for anything but condemnation. We
are leading no life of self-indulgence,
except, indeed, that being happy in each
other, we find everything easy. We are
working hard to provide for others bet
ter than we provide for ourselves,
and so fulfill every responsibility
that lies upon us. Levity and pride
would not be a sufficient basis for that.
Pardon me if, in vindicating myself
from unjust conclusions, i seem too
cold and self-asserting. / should not
care to vindicate myself if l did not
love you and desire to relieve you of the
pain which you say these conclusions
have given yeu. Whatever / may have
misinterpreted before, / do not misin-
terpret 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
myself again it is not healthy to dwell
on ones feelings and conduct, but only
to try and live more faithfully and
lovingly every fresh day. / think not
one of the endless words and deeds o.
kindness and forbearance you have
ever shown me has vanished
from my memory. Irecall them often,
and feel, as about everything else in the
past, how deficient / have been in al
most every relation in my life. But
that deficiency is irrevocable, and 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. Gas if
we never should be very near each other
again, dear Clara, do bear this faith in
your mind, that ! am not insensible or
u~ngrateful TO all your goodness, and
that / am one among the many for
whom you have not lived in vain. /
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.