BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, [20 FEB. 1918]
BRACERS 19294. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<London>
Wed.1^, 2^,3

My Darling Love

It is horrid that you have influenza — I do hope you will soon be better. Remember one has to be very careful when one is convalescent — otherwise one may have tiresome after-effects — It is damnable that it should have come just when you werea                     I want to hear each day what the Dr. says, if Miles4 could telephone —

I have started writing the Lippincott book.5 It will be deadly dull, but I shall easily get it finished. Miss Kyle6 will begin coming at once — I shan’t let it interfere with Tuesday nights and Wed. all-days, as soon as you are well again. I am leading a quiet life, merely working, seeing no oPhilosophy of Logical Atomism”ne, immersing myself in what I have to write — It doesn’t interest me much —

The Germans have forced the Bolsheviks to sign7 a peace agreeing to both annexations and indemnities — They are scoundrels, like the men in power everywhere else. But any peace is to the good.

Goodnight dear Love — Take care of yourself — My love is with you every moment.

B

• 1

  [document] Document 200282.

• 2

  [envelope] The Lady Constance Malleson | 6 Mecklenburgh Square | W.C.1. Pmk: LONDON | 1. 15 AM | FEB 20 18A

• 3

  [date] Colette wrote “20 Feb 1918” on the letter.

• 4

  Miles Miles Malleson (1888–1969), Colette’s husband. For information on him, see BRACERS 19046, n.4.

• 5

  the Lippincott bookRoads to Freedom, which was in the end was not published by Lippincott. Allen & Unwin published it first, in December 1918. The American edition by Henry Holt and Company did not appear until March 1919.

• 6

  Miss Kyle She took the dictation for, and also typed, Roads to Freedom. At the same time she was taking down BR’s “Philosophy of Logical Atomism” lectures (17 in Papers 8).

• 7

  The Germans have forced the Bolsheviks to sign BR would presumably have read the article in The Times that day, “Bolshevist Surrender. German Terms Accepted. Ready to Sign Peace”, p. 6. Lenin and Trotsky had issued a statement indicating their willingness to sign a peace agreement on behalf of Russia.

Textual Notes

• a

  you were After “careful” BR switched to pencil. “were” is smudged. What follows it was either deliberately or accidentally erased — about five or six words.