BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, [28 MAY 1919]
BRACERS 19481. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<Battersea>
Wednesday mg.1 ^, 2 ^, 3

My Darling Love

I had not one moment yesterday for writing — but I kept thinking of you — on the Channel, at Boulogne, in Paris — think of smelling Paris again after all these years,4 and hearing the street noises, so different from those of any other town — I do envy you — I am feeling amazingly happy — both about work and about you — it makes one a much more decent person, not full of rages and exactions. I have not had as much energy for work any time the last 9 years — C.A.5 is not quite so well and is worried about himself. I don’t know how much there is in it. — I can’t tell you how I loved Monday evening — Give my love to Priscilla6 and tell her I bless her for giving you such a lovely holiday just when you needed it — Enjoy yourself, and get well. All love.

B

Notes

• 1

  [document] Document 200469.

• 2

  [envelope] The Lady Constance Malleson | 15 Rue St. Pierre | Avenue de Neuilly | France. [“Paris” is deleted in pencil and “Neuilly” underlined.] Pmk: BATTERSEA S.W.11 | 2.15 PM | 28 MAY 19

• 3

  [date] The date is taken from the envelope’s postmark.

• 4

  after all these years Colette was visiting Paris after a lengthy absence because of World War I.

• 5

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

• 6

  Priscilla 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).