And my subsequent acquaintance with her in after years led me to feel sure that this had become much modified.

She once said to me at Florence that she wished she never had been born! I was deeply pained and shocked; but I am convinced that the utterance was the result, not of irritation and impatience caused by pain, but of the influence exercised on the tone of thought and power of thinking by bodily malady.

I feel sure that she would not have given expression to such a sentiment when I and my wife were subsequently staying with her and Lewes at their lovely home in Surrey.

She had by that time, I cannot but think, reached a brighter outlook and happier frame of mind.
We had as neighbours at Ricorboli, although on the opposite bank of the Arno, our old and very highly-valued friends, Mr.G.P.Marsh, the United States Minister, and his charming wife, to whom for the sake of both parties we were desirous of introducing our distinguished guests.
We thought it right to explain to Mrs.Marsh fully all that was not strictly normal in the relationship of George Eliot and G.H.

Lewes before bringing them together, and were assured both by her and by her husband that they saw nothing in the circumstances which need deprive them of the pleasure of making the acquaintance of persons whom it would be so agreeable to them to know.