BR TO OTTOLINE MORRELL, 3 NOV. 1911
BRACERS 17329. Morrell papers #242, Texas
Proofread by K. Blackwell et al.

<Cambridge>
Friday evg. Nov. 3 ’11.1^, 2

My Darling

How nice it was going with you to my flat and choosing things — I did enjoy it. It seemed to give such a settled feeling. I was sorry to find you so tired, but it was a delightful time in spite of that. I never like to do anything to break down the reserves that you find useful, but I am always deeply grateful when your reserves fall away. — I love reading Dante with you — I feel he suits you better than any other author I know of. He has such amazing nobility and passion and directness, with art and occasional melting soft beauty.

I ran as far as Russell Square and there found a taxi, so that I actually had some 3 minutes to spare at King’s Cross. I had to run, because it would have been disastrous if I had missed the train. I was too sleepy to write to you in the train — I am very short of sleep, I suppose from smoking less. I don’t know how I shall keep awake for my paper tonight. Tomorrow I have Lucy Silcox in the afternoon, but no fatigues, which I am glad of. I wish you knew her — if you lose Mr Davies you will know no Xtians at all. You ought to get Miss Stawell to bring her to see you. Her defect is a lack of hardness — she is inclined to say yes to all ideas that please her, regardless of incompatibilities. But as a practical person, managing a difficult institution, I don’t think she has that defect at all — her face has the lines of responsibility and serious decision, tho’ she keeps that side in the background. You would like her because she is so completely dominated by love.

I shall keep all my time free Tuesday and Wed. so you can settle about it as seems best. — I have got a new lot of proofs from the Press, just come, before I have done the last lot; also a new lot of the shilling shocker; also proofs of my reply to that Hungarian writing in French, whose stuff I sent you. So I have enough to go on with till Tuesday. I enclose a page of the MS (which please burn3) to amuse you. Every one of the numbers on the left is a reference, which has to be verified.

Your rug is beautiful. I didn’t like to say much before the shopmen, but I loved it. I think the rooms will be very nice. I shall get my father’s desk from Ponsonby, and a little oak-table belonging to my mother, made out of a Doomsday-book oak at Alderley, on which I wrote almost the whole of Principia Mathematica (except of course Whitehead’s part). There was a book-case that used to be at my grandmother’s at Dover Str. but it wouldn’t go with anything — it would only be in the passage, and there there is hardly room. — I am afraid you will hate Oxford. The thought of the place all but makes me sick. Goodbye my treasure — it was a very happy time today. I do hope you will be less tired. I love you, I love you.

Your
B.

• 1

  [document] Document 000242. Proofread against a colour scan of the original.

• 2

  [envelope] A circled “242”. The Lady Ottoline Morrell | 44 Bedford Square | London W.C. Pmk: CAMBRIDGE | 10.PM | NO 3 | 11 | 2

• 3

  please burn The only surviving leaf of the first edition of Principia Mathematica remains with the letter at Texas. The leaf is the manuscript for Volume II, *208.4, and is reproduced in Russell, 31 (2011): 81.