1891-07-29 to Maurice Moore

Autograph letter signed, National Library of Ireland, 364 words

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

8 Kings Bench Walk, Temple

[Wednesday] July 29th [1891]

My dear Maurice

It was very kind of you to take the trouble to write me a long letter in the hot weather.

The news that you hoped to be in England this winter interested me above anything else in your letter: I am in truth longing to see you and it will give me much pleasure to make the acquaintance of your wife. I have heard a great deal about her and hope we shall be great friends.

I wish you had told me more about your horses, your experiences are most interesting. How well you must know India by this time, it must be to you what France is to me. I suppose when you come home it will be for a long time.

I am glad you like my book and you seem to have come to the same conclusion as everybody else. One chorus of praise, not one bad article here or in America where I may go to lecture this autumn. But I do not think it is as good as A Mummer’s Wife that will be read when Impressions and Opinions is forgotten.

I am writing now a story in the Lady's Pictorial called Vain Fortune. For the sake of the readers of that modest journal I have hidden myself under petticoats. "Lady Rhone" is not to be found in the Peerage. But Lord Rhone is to be found in the peerage of letters. Balzac wrote some of his first stories under that name. Vain Fortune is, I think, a good story; if any numbers of the newspaper come across your way, look at it.

Looking over your letter I see that you advise me not to sell any land under the new bill. This is a matter I should like to consult you about. Shall you be in England before Christmas? It will be very pleasant to see you again... What centuries seem to have passed.

Affectionately yours

George Moore.

PS My kindest regards to your wife.