BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, [27 NOV. 1917]
BRACERS 19250. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<London>
Tuesday1^, 2

My Beloved

I will be upstairs at le Petit Savoyard3 at 7 exactly — Oh I am longinga to be with you my dearest Joy — I can’t bear the feeling of your being unhappy — especially when I am away from it all. I want to fold you in my arms and make you feel all the warmth of my love — I want you to feel me a refuge —  I want quite desperately to wipe out the effect of the time of estrangement.

I have got myself very completely in hand for the present: I feel I can direct my life by my will and not be driven by frantic despairs and desires. The result is that I am much less tired, though I do much more work; also I am less self-centred, and have much more real affection to give to all and sundry. It makes me very happy, and in time it will make me intelligent again.

You can safely lean on me now — and not be afraid that I shall be hurt, or that I shall fail in sympathy — There is no need for you to tell anything, if you will let me pour out love and hope and strength upon you. I cannot tell you how I thirst for the time when we shall be together at the Studio.4 My dear, my very dear, I love you from the depths of my being.

B

• 1

  [document] Document 200238.

• 2

  [date] Colette wrote “27 Nov. 1917” on the letter.

• 3

  le Petit Savoyard A Soho restaurant.

• 4

  the Studio The name given to the place that BR and Colette had rented in Soho. For further information on it, see BRACERS 19240, n.9.

Textual Notes

• a

  longing underlined five times in a continuous line