BRACERS Record Detail for 135208
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"Tues. night"
"My Aunt Agatha is very kind and nice, but longing to find fault with Alys. I have had to cope with her, hating the false appearance of generosity. I feel such a Tartuffe, it is loathsome. That's why I am so furious with Jane*—she forced me to do a dirty job for nothing. I have no objection to plain lying, but lying that makes oneself out a saint is fancy lying. However it doesn't really matter. My Aunt asked if I could get freedom, and when I said no, she said that was very hard on me. But she wouldn't sympathize if she knew the truth.
*[Jane Harrison]
Dearest, dearest, I do want you. It is ages since I saw you last."
[BR began writing OM at Rozeldene on the 27th (record 17212). A second letter, below as record 135208, was written on the train and in London on the 28th and apparently mailed with the first letter.]
BR TO OTTOLINE MORRELL, [28 JUNE 1911]
BRACERS 135208. ALS. Morrell papers #132A, Texas
Proofread by K. Blackwell et al.
<letterhead>
Trinity College,
Cambridge.1
, 2
Wednesday in the train.
Your letter this morning was a great delight my Darling. I had to wait through breakfast before reading it. I am very glad you can have me Friday night as well. That being so, I will not bring my bicycle, and therefore I should be glad to be met at Henley tomorrow morning. I will come up with you with great joy on Sat. if you will get to London in time for me to catch the 1.40 at Paddington.
My Aunt was very nice. One of her reasons for disliking Alys was that she had heard she had loose views of marriage — O horrors! I said I thought that might have been so once but was so no longer. — I am glad of what you say about Goldie. My impression is that everybody likes me better than they used to. — I have brought a little pocket Dante to read in the train. We really ought some day to read some Dante together — but it is so hard to find time for everything — Dante is amazingly fine — it is very noble.
I feel very light-hearted having got away from Cambridge. Much as I like it is is the place of work, and holiday moods don’t come there. Now the world is full of joy — I have tomorrow to think of, and a whole lifetime of increasing union. Goodbye Dearest for the moment. I won’t post this till I have been to More’s Garden.
London Your letter of yesterday, and the one of the day before forwarded, have both reached me — they are a great joy. I didn’t need so much pity as you gave me — all the Martha complaints were mainly comic. I am waiting about now on the chance of a telegram. I originally proposed tea today to the Whiteheads, and they made me change it to dinner. I have some things of very considerable importance to talk over with them, so I had better stay. But I will be with you at 10 tomorrow. It won’t matter if Goldie meets me. — My MS is travelling by goods train to Malvern so it can’t be got at till I reach Malvern.
Very soon I shall go up to G.W. Hotel.
I am writing in a tea shop, and now I must stop. Goodbye Darling till tomorrow. I long for you with all my being, my Dearest Joy.
Your
B.
