1894-03-05 to Clara Lanza

Autograph letter signed, Cornell University, 627 words

[Edited for paragraph breaks, capitalization, spelling and punctuation.]

8 Kings Bench Walk, Temple

[Monday] March 5th [1894]

My dear Clara Lanza

I have just read your letter and I answer it at once. If I were to postpone answering it for a single day I might never write. That would be disgraceful for no man ever received a manlier letter from a woman. Of course it is a pleasure to think, to know, that you care to hear from me but vanity does not enter into my admiration for your letter. I love your letter principally because it clearly proceeded from a noble heart; for surely kindly remembrance is a noble quality — a very noble straight-minded woman rose up in my imagination as I read your letter — the kind of woman I love, the kind of woman I am, to be quite candid, proud of loving.

But why did I not write to you for the last two years? Alas for no particular reason. I put off writing, I intended to write and once or twice I said "What's the good? We are three thousand miles asunder... I shall never see her. What's the good..." This was not nice or wise, I admit; I did not often think like that — That thought was not a conviction, only passing thought, a frail excuse for not writing; for in truth I think as kindly of you as you of me. If we had met I am sure we should have been good friends — but we are, as it is, good friends? — I mean that we should have got on.

How long is it since we became acquainted, five years? it must be quite that! So I have not written to you for two years. Forgive me Clara, if you can, I was a fool not to write, for there are so few who are worth knowing. But I shall not fall into arrear again and this correspondence shall continue — shall I be cynical and say, till we meet, or shall I be sentimental and say till the end of the chapter.

For the last three years I have been working off and on at a novel which is to be my masterpiece. It will be published next week or the week after. It is about a servant girl with an illegitimate child — I must have written to you about the project when I wrote last, two years ago. The book is now finished and I am satisfied. I cannot do better because I cannot see further. I will send you the book.

You say that a great deal has happened in the last two years. I suppose you mean that events have happened in your life, ”a great deal has occurred.” Does this mean that you have left your husband, lost your fortune or turned grey? Do write and tell me what has happened. Have you written a novel, have you published a novel since I heard from you...

I have just reread your letter. It is an exceedingly beautiful letter, it reveals a very noble nature. For its sake I almost feel glad that I did not write; it has helped me to understand and I now appreciate you even more than I did before…

I don't think that I sent you Modem Painting. Have you seen or heard of the book? It is one of my most successful publications.

Pray write to me as soon as you can find time. I want to hear what has happened, what has occurred in the last two years. Tell me about yourself and believe me to be

Your very sincere friend

George Moore.

A thousand thanks for your letter.