BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, [30 APR. 1917]
BRACERS 19158. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<London>
Monday1^, 2^, 3

2 letters from you4 when I got home — one little note written before you started and one from Cox Green.5 A thousand thanks for both my dearest Darling — Please write every day telling me all you do — It will make the separation easier to bear. Yes, it was lovely in the country — full of spring flowers. I heard the cuckoo. I began to believe once more in the possibility of happiness — We talked of China and the Caucasus and the Orinoco and all the wonderful places one will be able to go to after the war. The sunshine and warmth trickled into one’s spirit and made the thought of joy revive.

My loved one you have noa idea how much I love you — I know I love your mind much more than I did and it will make me less smooth and more angular I am afraid — But I hope not. My thoughts cling to you my dear one — I longb for you to be happy — Do please pleasec tell me what is happening in your thoughts — what is your despair — and more about your health. Remember it is very painful for me not to know more.

Goodbye my Heart’s Comrade.6 A thousand thanks for the blue flowers which gave me great delight.

B

• 1

  [document] Document 200134.

• 2

  [envelope] The Lady Constance Malleson | 43 Bernard Str. | Russell Square | W.C.1. Pmk: none, the franked portion of the envelope having been removed.

• 3

  [date] Colette wrote “30th April 1917” on the envelope.

• 4

  2 letters from you It is not clear which letters these are.

• 5

  Cox Green Colette had been staying at her mother’s country cottage in Bellingdon, near Chesham, Berks.

• 6

  Heart’s Comrade For the usage of this term, see BRACERS 19145, n.12.

Textual Notes

• a

  no “no” is underlined four times in a continuous stroke.

• b

  long “long” is underlined four times in a continuous stroke.

• c

  please The second “please” is underlined five times in a continuous stroke.