BR TO OTTOLINE MORRELL, [26 MAY 1911]
BRACERS 17157. ALS. Morrell papers #84, Texas
Proofread by K. Blackwell et al.

<letterhead>
Trinity College,
Cambridge.1^, 2
May 26. evening.

My Dearest

This will be only a line just to send love and to tell you how my thoughts are always with you. I am sorry you will have to see Logan again and also sorry that Philip has to. Philip is extraordinarily good; I feel almost oppressed by his generosity.

I went to see Verrall this afternoon — found his eyes bad, so that he is unable to read. The result was that he was very glad of company. Then I worked for a while, and cleared off a host of letters.3 I enclose one that might interest you.a It is awful how letters mount up — one seems never to be done with them.

I had as usual a long talk with Lamb — he was pained because Karin had snubbed him. The Stevens4 (again!) told Karin that they had told Lamb he might take credit for her loss of religion; so Karin told him his attacks were almost the only thing that could have prevented her from giving it up. It led on, between him and me, to a very serious conversation, as to what is really important. He is all tied up in knots, but would be nearly all right if he were straightened out.

I have been interrupted by Hardy, who came to ask me to help in future with teaching the mathematical men to write essays. I agreed with alacrity; it is just the sort of thing I shall enjoy doing.

I have got some proof-sheets to look over. For the last 3 months there have been no proof-sheets, because Whiteheadb came upon an unexpected difficulty, so that we had to stop the printing. But Whitehead has put it straight, and now the proofs have begun again. They take up a great deal of time when they are in full swing. They will probably last about another 18 months.

This is a dull disjointed letter, but there is a relief in writing to you about anything. This time is a trial, but if all turns out all right, it will have only deepened and strengthened our bond. My trust and rest in you are absolute. They cannot touch what we feel, or what you and our love have made me know of beauty and of how to live. Goodbye my Life. I live every moment in the thought of you.

Your
B [I had put O by mistake]

• 1

  [document] Document 000084. Proofread against a colour scan of the original.

• 2

  [envelope] A circled “84”. The Lady Ottoline Morrell | Newington House | Wallingford. Pmk: CAMBRIDGE | 11 PM | MY 26 | 11 | 4

• 3

  host of letters None of BR’s replies are extant in RA.

• 4

  Stevens BR means the Stephens, in particular Vanessa and probably also Virginia. Karin Costelloe was to marry their brother Adrian in 1914.

Textual Notes

• a

  might interest you In his letter J. St. Louis Carson of the Association of Teachers of Mathematics offered BR the presidency of the association. BR recorded “no” at the top. Carson also wants to query BR on “the proper development of education” arising from The Principles of Mathematics. His letter remains with BR’s at Texas. See BRACERS 17158.

• b

  Whitehead before deleted and I