BR TO OTTOLINE MORRELL, 24 DEC. 1911
BRACERS 17385. ALS. Morrell papers #296, Texas
Proofread by K. Blackwell et al.

<letterhead>
Trinity College,
Cambridge.1^, 2
Dec. 24. ’11. evening

My Darling

I was sorry to write such a scrap today, but the family life made it difficult and I could only get away for very few minutes.

Breakfast here is nominally at 9.15, really at 10.30 — it is a job to wait so long. After breakfast Erica and Jessie and Geach and I walked into Marlborough to get medicine, and after lunch North and I went a short walk — the whole of the rest of the day has been family conversation. Mrs W. laughs at us all in turn — I think Geach has never been laughed at before and it does him good.

The Cobden Sandersons came to tea — they are staying at Hilton Young’s cottage. I have a sentimental feeling about him — the young people thought him so ridiculous that they had to leave the room hurriedly to prevent an explosion of laughter. I know he is quite absurd and yet I love him.

There has been no opportunity for any serious conversation, or for getting on with work with Whitehead, as he has been feeling seedy.

Abercrombie is quite good, but the endless insistence on sex rather irritates me. I am quite prepared to believe it is very good, but I don’t myself get much pleasure from it.

I shall hope for a letter from you tomorrow morning, but I shan’t wait for your letter, as it is much easier to post this before family life sets in. I am not sleeping in the house, but in the house of the son and daughter-in-law of Mrs Rebbeck, the Whitehead’s landlady, the publican, and the principal person of the village — a buxom pleasant lady of about 50. The young woman here seems pleasant — I haven’t seen the young man. They have put me in the best bedroom, new and clean and nice, with a fire and every imaginable luxury.

I am longing for Wednesday. It is just possible that owing to Xmas you may not get another letter from me before then. I shall expect you to luncheon about 1.30 — I shall be there earlier — and I will give you an early tea if you go back by the 4.55. It will be nice to give you meals. My Aunt Agatha says she will use my flat when she comes to town! — She hasn’t been to London for many years. Goodbye Darling. I do hope you are getting rested. I love you my Dearest.

Your devoted
B.

• 1

  [document] Document 000296. Proofread against a colour scan of the original.

• 2

  [envelope] A circled “296”. The Lady Ottoline Morrell | Black Hall | Oxford. Pmk: MARLBOROUGH |  | DE 25 | 11

Textual Notes

• a

  Eric written over North