BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, 17 FEB. 1920
BRACERS 19617. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<letterhead>
70, Overstrand Mansions,
Prince of Wales Road,
Battersea, S.W.1^, 2
17.2.20

My dearest Darling

It was lovely getting your dear long letter3 this morning — Yes, I approve highly of the phrase for your letters that you quote.4 — How well I remember the Wrekin5 from the train, both coming into Shrewsbury and coming out of it, on the way to Ludlow6 —

My shoulder is really mending at last — I have got my clothes on properly at last, and only a sling, which I am to get rid of in a few days — It is a comfort — I had a bath last night, the 1st time for a month! It was a comfort —

I am utterly stupid, as a result partly of my illness and partly of worry and partly of winter. I need a holiday desperately and shall try to get one as soon as my lectures are over — You told me what you were doing after Ulverston7 but I forget. Would you mind telling me again — Also the date when you spoke of going to the theatre8 with me —

Dear Heart it was such a good letter you wrote me that came this morning — I do so understand what you feel about your home9 and the Cat and Fiddle.10 Bless you my Angel.

B.

• 1

  [document] Document 200610.

• 2

  [envelope] Miss Colette O’Niel | c/o F. Forbes-Robertson Esq | “Mice and Men” Co. | Wellington | Salop. Pmk: BATTERSEA S.W.11 | 1.15 PM | 17 FEB 20

• 3

  your dear long letter Her letter of 16 February 1920 (BRACERS 113194).

• 4

  phrase for your letters that you quote This was excised from the typed transcription of her letter of 16 February 1920.

• 5

  the Wrekin In her letter of 16 February 1920, Colette writes that from her lodgings in the outskirts of Wellington she can see two thickly wooded, high hills and wonders if they are the Wrekin. The Wrekin, 1,334 ft. in height, dominates the landscape of central Shropshire.

• 6

  the way to Ludlow En route to Ashford Carbonel, where they had spent idyllic holidays.

• 7

  Ulverston A market town in Cumbria.

• 8

  going to the theatre To see Bernard Shaw’s Candida which was to open on 1 March.

• 9

  what you feel about your home Colette had written that she had a photograph of Castlewellan with her. Her comments about it are omitted in the typed transcription that remains of the letter.

• 10

  Cat and Fiddle She also had a postcard photograph of this isolated pub on the moors high above Buxton, Derbyshire where BR and Colette had stayed on two occasions. For information on the pub, see BRACERS 19065, n.5.