BR TO OTTOLINE MORRELL, 12 NOV. 1911
BRACERS 17340. Morrell papers #253, Texas
Proofread by K. Blackwell et al.

<Cambridge>
Trinity.1^, 2
Sunday aftn. Nov. 12. ’11

My Darling

It is sad that you are so tired, but I try to think it is not to be wondered at. I am glad you liked Dorothy Lamb — I thought her nice, the little I saw of her. I do hope Miss Cox won’t go to stay with Virginia — it seems to me most undesirable. I haven’t seen her since that momentary meeting at King’s Cross. Perhaps Mrs Whitehead will be able to stop her. — I am eagerly waiting to see what expression of disgust you will have for Bonar Law — I don’t think it can be equal to your Austen groan. — I suppose you saw that Christabel has taken up womanhood suffrage — it is a good thing the militants have got free from their middle-class measure, which didn’t represent them fairly.

Yesterday after posting my letter to you I had just started on proofs when I was called on by Layton, a young economist don, Treasurer of our Camb. Adult Suffrage Society, to say I hadn’t been energetic enough and now was the time to strike and so on. It has really not been much my fault, but I felt perhaps my thoughts had sometimes wandered from the universal Woman to the particular — oh fie. Ogden came while Layton was there — our big meeting is to be March 1st. — Other proofs came immediately after they had gone, but I got them all finished before dinner, in addition to going a bicycle ride and calling on the Miss Kennedys, who are props of Liberalism in Cambridge — very old, with manners straight out of Cranford, but with all the most modern ideas in politics. One of them was ill, but I saw the other, who is on our Adult Suffrage Comee. — I wanted to instil a right view of the situation, because I knew she would be feeling women’s suffrage in danger. She listened patiently to a torrent, but I think was unconvinced.

After dinner I had Hardy, North, and Burns (a budding philosopher, brother of the priest who recanted, rather nice, a great friend of North). This morning I breakfasted with North and went a 3 hours’ walk with him, which brings us to the present time — this afternoon I go to tea with Jourdain. Tomorrow — but no, I will go no further into the future. I enjoyed walking in the morning — altho’ it rained at the end, it was a day where things look beautiful — and one has such a pleasant peaceful feeling sitting at home after walking in rain.

Thank you very much but don’t give me the Hammonds’ book — it might interest me but I am not sure it would.

Edith Sichel sounds very nice — I am sure I don’t know her. I must read Tolstoy in the Nation — I began it last night but was interrupted. — I will go to the Flat tomorrow before coming to you — I will reach you at 11. I can be at King’s X 9.50, which gives plenty of time — and I will see if there is a cupboard. What a delicious day we can have Friday. Shall I stay the night or would it be useless? By that time we ought to be able to get the flat in thorough order.

North is intensely interested in philosophy, and greatly regretting that he took up economics. He would like to desert economics for philosophy, but from the point of view of his future livelihood it seems undesirable. I expressed to him some of my doubts as to the value of philosophy; it surprised him greatly that I felt that. I expect some day I shall have to write out what I think about it; till I do that, I shan’t be clear as to what I think on the balance. Young men do seem to me so interesting and so important; and I feel I have a certain special function here owing to the fact that I have no professional cares and not much routine work. It rather looks as if I should have to stay here the rest of my life, provided the College wishes me to stay when my five years are finished. I rather thought Moore would fulfil the same functions, but so far he is not sociable enough — my job here depends upon being always ready to see people. My aim is to be known as a person whom anybody may interrupt at any moment. It is odd how much it adds to the problems of life to have such complete freedom as I have — one has to be always trying to settle what is the very best thing one can do. As long as the big book was on hand the problem didn’t arise, but now it has come up afresh. What I try to do here is to give people the best conception I can of the intellectual life. The young men I come across are largely going to teach, and it makes a great difference to their value as teachers how they conceive their subject and thought in general.

Dearest, it is sad not being able to get a letter to you today. But this will reach you when you are called — and I shall arrive at eleven. It is so divine being with you — and I come away so filled with energy and hope and life — every moment is utterly different since you have come into my life. Goodbye my darling love — Tomorrow —

Your
B.

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  [document] Document 000253. Proofread against a colour scan of the original.

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  [envelope] A circled “253”. The Lady Ottoline Morrell | 44 Bedford Square | London W.C.