BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, [15 OCT. 1916]
BRACERS 19058. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

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57 Gordon Sq.1
W.C.
Manchester,
Sunday2

I have a good deal of reason to think my letters are read by the censor, so I will try not to write in a way that would interest him.  Your letter3 from Bellingdon4 actually arrived this morning, which is amazing — your letters fly on wings, faster than any one else’s.  It was such a delicious letter — I loved the elfish people up and down your back.5 — The War Office has at last finally decided against my going to Glasgow6 so I shall be back Tues. about 2. Tues. evening I shall be free — will you?  I hope so. Now I have to prepare a speech on the “meaning of brotherhood” for this afternoon7 — I am not in the vein — tired and without spirit. But that is temporary. — There is a great deal more I want to say but I leave it to your imagination for good reasons.  Your imagination will have to be very active!

B.

• 1

  [document] Document 200023.

• 2

  [date] Colette wrote “15 Oct. 1916” on the letter.

• 3

  Your letter Of 14 October 1916, BRACERS 112947.

• 4

  Bellingdon The small country cottage named “Nimmy Not” that Colette and Miles rented was in Bellingdon, near Chesham, Bucks. It had previously been rented by D.H. and Frieda Lawrence.

• 5

  elfish people up and down your back She used this as a simile for “all her thoughts of him” which were running like “elfish people”.

• 6

  my going to Glasgow Instead, Robert Smillie delivered BR’s lecture “Political Ideals” (B&R A24; 56 in Papers 14). BR gave the lecture series, “The World as It Can Be Made”, in Manchester, 16–20 October, and next month in Birmingham.

• 7

  speech … afternoon BR spoke on the meaning of brotherhood to the Union Chapel Brotherhood, Manchester. A report, “Mr. Russell in Manchester”, appeared in the Manchester Guardian, 16 Oct. 1916, p. 6 (B&R D16.08).