BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, [20 SEPT. 1918]
BRACERS 19374. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<letterhead>
Telegraph House,1^, 2
Chichester.
Friday3

Beloved

Your dear tiny letter4 is just come — such a joy. I had worked it out that there couldn’t possibly be a letter today —

This place is divinely beautiful — the sunset last night was one of the most wonderful I have ever seen. And this morning the sea gleams under the sun, shadows of clouds chase each other across the woods, and the Isle of Wight hills shimmer in the dim West. It goes to my soul. I have not been very happy these last days, but the glory of the world is healing and gives one courage for the future — Dear Love, I do hope you are getting better. It is dreadful to see you ill — Monday 4.30 — All love my lovely Darling.

B.

• 1

  [document] Document 200354.

• 2

  Telegraph House His brother Frank’s country home. Instead of going to Ashford with Colette, BR had gone to Frank’s. Instead of beginning a joint life together, their relationship shattered, destroyed by his jealousy over an affair which BR mistakenly thought Colette was having.

• 3

  [date] Colette wrote “probably 20 Sept. 1918” on a separate slip of paper.This is the first extant letter after BR’s early release from Brixton Prison on 14 September.

• 4

  tiny letter None of Colette’s letters are extant for the autumn of 1918, only a listing which is described as “indicating the day to day happenings as well as something of the flavour of his first months after Brixton” (“Letters to Bertrand Russell from Constance Malleson, 1916–1969", p. 293; the entry for 19 Sept. reads: “He goes to Telegraph House. She writes welcoming him there.”).