BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, 28 DEC. 1925
BRACERS 19750. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

Lee Abbey Hotel,1^, 2
Lynton, N. Devon.
28.12.25

My dear Colette

You really are angelic to John3 — you can hardly imagine the unutterable bliss that he has got from his train.4 He soon learnt to work the switch himself, and he sits in rapt contemplation. Nickie5 also enjoys it, and is permitted to be a bridge under which the train passes. It has been quite difficult to get John to eat, because he wanted to get back to his train and meals were an interruption. We gave him the stocking the first morning he was here, so that it should not be confounded with the flood of Xmas presents, but we kept back the train till the proper moment.

John is enclosing a signed expression of his sentiments. All the children are having a good time — Bless you, Colette.

Your
B.R.

• 1

  [document] Document 200757.

• 2

  Lee Abbey Hotel The Russells were at this hotel the previous year from 27 December 1924 to 3 January 1925 (invoice, document 754.100548). Next year they holidayed with others there and made plans for Beacon Hill School.

• 3

  John John Conrad Russell, born 16 November 1921, to BR and his wife Dora.

• 4

  his train Colette’s Christmas gift to John — it had a “Hun-made engine” (Colette, 15 Dec. 1925, BRACERS 113233).

• 5

  Nickie Nicky Malleson, the son of Miles and his second wife, Joan.