BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, 23 OCT. 1918
BRACERS 19372. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<Abinger Common>
Wed. Oct 23 ’181 ^, 2

Beloved

A thousand thanks for telegram yesterday3 and lovely letter today. You must have leapt out of bed to get the telegram off so early — it was waiting for me when I arrived.

I have alternations of mood, good and bad, neither very strong. In the main I am just resting from emotion. It is heavenly here — beautiful beyond belief — moon last night, exquisite sunrise this morning, dew, larks, robins, everything. The place is comfortable,4 food delicious, Mrs Dudeney an angel: in the morning she wears a cap which reminds me of yours. Allen5 is adorable — I spend my time ragging him. He is longing for a love affair, but says shyness makes him rude to any one who is at all attractive. I have promised to get Gladys6 to collect a dozen young women for a judgement of Paris — all guaranteed willing. Only indispensable qualifications: looks and absence of interest in politics. Allen also gets a daily letter from Gladys. — I have just been telling him of the effect he had on you — It is, as I thought, merely shyness on his part. He is much distressed at having had such an effect. He bids me say he loves you just as much as he ever did. I know this is the truth. The sternness we both felt in him is only because of prison shyness, which I felt in a lesser degree.

I am here till Monday, or could stay longer. Why don’t you come down for the day, tomorrow or any later day?  Gomshall is the station. I would meet you there, walk up here, we would lunch with C.A.,7 and then go off by ourselves. I think I would bring you from the station in a motor, so that you could do your walking here where it is beautiful. Do come. I doubt if Sunday trains are possible. Charing X. or London Bridge*. Telegraph if and when you can come. If Monday, I would come back to town with you; or I could stay here till Tuesday if you couldn’t come before — Tell me all about your health. I was afraid the emotions and fatigue of our last day8 were bad for you. Please give the most friendly messages to your mother,9 and tell her how glad I am to think you are in her care.10

B.

*London Bridge 11.10 is best train.
(Tube from Brit. Museum, change at Bank. Takes ½ hour.)

Notes

• 1

  [document] Document 200364.

• 2

  [envelope] The Lady Constance Malleson | 44 Great Cumberland Place | London W.1. Pmk: ABINGER COMMON | OC 23 | 18

• 3

  telegram yesterday 22 October 1918 (BRACERS 107352).

• 4

  The place is comfortable Colette describes it in detail in an unfinished typescript, “Lemons Cottage, Abinger Common, Nr: Dorking” (Rec. Acq. 596, Box 6.74, F–2).

• 5

  Allen (Reginald) Clifford Allen (1889–1939). For information on him, see BRACERS 19046, n.7.

• 6

  Gladys Gladys W. Rinder. For information on her, see BRACERS 19044, n.5.

• 7

  C.A. (Reginald) Clifford Allen. See above.

• 8

  our last day At Lulworth Cove, Dorset.

• 9

  your mother Priscilla, Lady Annesley (1870–1941), the second wife of Hugh Annesley, 5th Earl of Annesley (1831–1908). Colette describes her mother as “among the most beautiful women of her day” with a love of bright colours and walking (After Ten Years  [London: J. Cape, 1931], pp. 12–14).

• 10

  in her care Colette was staying with her mother at 44 Great Cumberland Place in London.