The home of Mrs. Lewes during the later years of her life was in one of the London suburbs, near Regent’s Park, in what is known as St. John’s Wood, at number 21, North Bank Street.  This locality was not too far from the city for the enjoyment and the use of its advantages, while it was out of the noise and the smoke.  The houses stand far apart, are surrounded with trees and lawns, while all is quiet and beautiful.  The square, unpretentious house in which the Leweses lived was surrounded by a fine garden and green turf, while flowers were abundant.  A high wall shut it out from the street.  Within, all was refinement and good taste; there were flowers in the windows, the furniture was plain and substantial, while quiet simplicity reigned supreme.  The house had two stories and a basement.  On the first floor were two drawing-rooms, a small reception room, a dining-room and Mr. Lewes’s study.  These rooms were decorated by Owen Jones, their artist friend.  The second floor contained the study of George Eliot, which was a plain room, not large.  Its two front windows looked into the garden, and there were book-cases around the walls, and a neat writing-desk.  All things about the house indicated simple tastes, moderate needs, and a plain method of life.

Mrs. Lewes usually went into her study at eight o’clock in the morning, and remained there at work until one.  If the weather was fine, she rode out in the afternoon, or she walked in Regent’s Park with Mr. Lewes.  In case the weather did not permit her going out, she returned again to her study in the afternoon.  The affairs of her household were so arranged that she could give herself uninterruptedly to her work.  The kitchen was in the basement, a housekeeper had entire charge of the management of the house, and Mrs. Lewes was carefully guarded from all outside interruptions.  She very seldom went into society, and she received but few visitors, except on Sunday afternoons.  Her letters were written by Mr. Lewes, with the exception of those to personal friends or an occasional outside correspondent; and all the details of the publication of her books and the management of her business affairs were in his hands.  The immediate success of her novels made them profitable to the publisher, and she was paid comparatively large sums for them.

Her evenings were spent by Mrs. Lewes at home, in reading and singing, unless she went to the theatre, as she often did.  She walked much, often visiting the zoological gardens, and she had a great liking for all kinds of small animals.  She greatly enjoyed travelling.  Music was her passion, and art her delight.  She preferred the realistic painters, and she never tired of the collections she often visited in London.

The health of Mrs. Lewes was never good.  She was a constant sufferer, was nervous, excitable and low-spirited.  Only by the utmost care and husbanding of her powers was she enabled to accomplish her work.  In a note to one of her correspondents she has given some hint of the almost chronic languor and bodily weakness from which she suffered.