BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, 3 JAN. 1917
BRACERS 19100. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<London>
Jan. 3, 1917

My Darling —1^, 2

Yes, alas, I am still in prison3 — I feel I have been living too laxly. I don’t know what I ought to be doing, but meantime I read a great deal of books I ought to have read before — I went to see Morel4 to knowa if he could help with suggestions, but he couldn’t. It may be a good while, I am afraid, before I come up from the mine for good. But I must and will (in spite of not being a King or Duke or Earl) come up temporarily for one thing, and that is, to have a visit from you in my flat.5 My heart has been set on that for a long time. At first I thought I could ignore Mrs Saich (the good lady who looks after me) but on reflection I don’t think I can — but she doesn’t come Sunday mornings. Are you free the evening of Saturday week?

My dearest loved one, it is hateful to me that I get these moods when I simply have to put away happiness for a time — but it is the only way I get work done. My love is always with you, my Beloved.

B.

• 1

  [document] Document 200072.

• 2

  [envelope] The Lady Constance Malleson | 43 Bernard Street | Russell Square | W.C. Pmk: LONDON. W.C | 3.15 PM | JAN 3 17B

• 3

  still in prison In her letter of 2 January 1917, she asked: “Are you still sunk in darkness?” (BRACERS 112990).

• 4

  Morel E.D. Morel (1873–1924), journalist and internationalist; a founder of the Union of Democratic Control.

• 5

  a visit from you in my flat BR’s flat (34 Russell Chambers in Bury Street) had been rented to Helen Dudley but she was now leaving. BR moved from his brother’s 57 Gordon Square home and back into his flat around January 10. Dudley, an American from Chicago, whom BR had been involved with during his 1914 trip to the United States, followed BR to England thinking they would have a life together, which didn’t happen. This is BRl’s first mention of his flat in his correspondence with Colette.

Textual Notes

• a

  know “Find out” would make more sense, and “know” may not be intended single word; but it appears to be.