BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, 14 JAN. 1920
BRACERS 19601. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<letterhead>
70, Overstrand Mansions,
Prince of Wales Road,
Battersea, S.W.1^, 2
14.1.20.

My Heart’s Life

Thank you for your dear little letter,3 and for ringing up this morning — I can’t tell you how much it means to me — You are so dear and kind — I long to have troubles constantly, so as to be comforted by you — No trouble not connected with you really troubles me — Miss Black4 is inclined to thinka that she would rather go on the stage than have children, if so I shall break of allb relations completely. If you ever come across her, do be kind to her — you would like her, and she will be very unhappy — I should say she has no chance of success.

Have you got a London Library copy of MacDonald’s Syndicalism?5 They have written about it. Please look as soon as you possibly can, and send it to me if you find it. Could you also look up the rest of your letters,6 and let me have them?

When am I going to see you again?

Now I must work. All my heart, my lovely Treasure, my Heart’s Comrade7 — It was wonderful, our time by the river8 — Goodbye, Beloved —
B.

• 1

  [document] Document 200594.

• 2

  [envelope] The Lady Constance Malleson | 6 Mecklenburgh Square | W.C.1. Pmk: BATTERSEA S.W.11. | 4.30 PM | 14 JAN 20

• 3

  your dear little letter Not extant.

• 4

  Miss Black Dora Black (1894–1986). She and BR were married from 1921 until 1935. They had two children together; Dora did not take up acting. For information on her, see BRACERS 19506, n.6.

• 5

  MacDonald’s Syndicalism (James) Ramsay MacDonald, Syndicalism: A Critical Examination (London: Constable, 1912).

• 6

  rest of your letters Although she was writing fictional letters for the English Review, this is more likely a reference to a series of letters between them, something like  the abandoned letter project he had begun with his sister-in-law Elizabeth Russell. BR first proposed the project on 22 November 1919 (BRACERS 19585, n.4).

• 7

  Heart’s Comrade For information on the use of the term, see BRACERS 19145, n.12.

• 8

  our time by the river They had been away together with Clifford Allen in Lynton for Christmas, returning on 9 January. The “time” refers to an occasion spent at an unidentified river, possibly the Thames near Allen’s Battersea flat.

Textual Notes

• a

  is inclined to think above deleted has decided

• b

  if so I shall break off all replaced so I have written breaking off