"Do not come, do not write, impersonal work" Read the full letter
| Letter Reference | HRC/UNCAT/OS-33 |
| Archive | Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas, Austin |
| Epistolary Type | Letter |
| Letter Date | Saturday 9 May 1885 |
| Address From | 30 Downshire Hill, Hampstead, London |
| Address To | |
| Who To | Havelock Ellis |
| Other Versions | Cronwright-Schreiner 1924: 72, 73; Draznin 1992: 350-1 |
| Permissions | Please read before using or citing this transcription |
| Legend |
The Project is grateful to the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, the University of Texas at Austin, for kindly allowing us to transcribe this Olive Schreiner letter, which is part of its Manuscript Collections. This letter has been dated by reference to information written onto it by Ellis. Schreiner stayed for just over a week at Downshire Hill in early May 1885.
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1Sat Morning
2
3I am not able to come. My darling, I want to see you so can’t you
4arriving from my meeting at Monday Morning at 10. At National Gal. &
5going to the Grosvenor Gal. together in the morning, if it is fine.
6Would the afternoon be more convenient to you. I want to see you so.
7How lovingly you walked about with me all yesterday. You do everything
8for me, & I can do nothing for you! I have been reading over this
9morning the first letter you wrote me after you left St Leonards. Ach,
10so sweet! You were so wonderful & loving to me when you were there
11Fancy you looked so beautiful to me when you were lying by that bush
12yesterday. What do you think I would do without you.
13
14Good bye my sweet beautiful boy. Perhaps next Thursday you could come
15& spend all day with me.
16Olive
17
18^Don’t trouble your self about my monetary concerns. I shall do
19splendidly & if I want more really I can also ask my brother.^
20
21Your
22Olive
23
2
3I am not able to come. My darling, I want to see you so can’t you
4arriving from my meeting at Monday Morning at 10. At National Gal. &
5going to the Grosvenor Gal. together in the morning, if it is fine.
6Would the afternoon be more convenient to you. I want to see you so.
7How lovingly you walked about with me all yesterday. You do everything
8for me, & I can do nothing for you! I have been reading over this
9morning the first letter you wrote me after you left St Leonards. Ach,
10so sweet! You were so wonderful & loving to me when you were there
11Fancy you looked so beautiful to me when you were lying by that bush
12yesterday. What do you think I would do without you.
13
14Good bye my sweet beautiful boy. Perhaps next Thursday you could come
15& spend all day with me.
16Olive
17
18^Don’t trouble your self about my monetary concerns. I shall do
19splendidly & if I want more really I can also ask my brother.^
20
21Your
22Olive
23
Notation
Draznin's (1992) version of this letter is in some respects different from our transcription. Cronwright-Schreiner's (1924) extract is incorrect in various ways.
Draznin's (1992) version of this letter is in some respects different from our transcription. Cronwright-Schreiner's (1924) extract is incorrect in various ways.