BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, [8 OCT. 1916]
BRACERS 19055. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<Abinger Common, near Dorking>
Sunday1^, 2

It was a joy, my dear one, to get your letter3 when I was called this morning — I hadn’t  thought it possible — my heart leapt when I saw it. Yesterday was very beautiful — wonderful clouds — an enchanted night — it is very delightful here.  Miss M.4 I imagine is still sleeping. I have discovered what is the matter with me — a very prosaic matter: a trouble with the gums5 which I have had before, which poisons the blood and produces depression — the dentist will put it right. Shameful that dentists can succeed where philosophy is useless!

I have had a letter from the War Office6 showing they want to climb down.  I don’t want them to do so till after the meeting of Parliament.  If they do, I can take a lot of work off Miss M’s shoulders.  I am very sorry I forgot to get Miles’s7 plays from you — I should have loved to have them to read here. Now I must stop — as Miss M. is sure to turn up in a moment.  I hope you did do something delightful yesterday.  Goodbye my Beloved. I shall see you Wed. evening. if not before. It seems a long time — but I will return a giant refreshed — and my thoughts will be with you for every moment my dear one.

B

• 1

  [document] Document 200020.

• 2

  [date] Colette wrote “8 Oct. 1916” on the letter.

• 3

  get your letter Of 7 October 1916, BRACERS 112943.

• 4

  Miss M. Catherine Marshall (1880–1961). For information on her, see BRACERS 19043, n.5.

• 5

  trouble with the gums It was pyorrhoea (Auto. 1: 206). For his new dental work, see below for the letter of [18 Oct. 1916], BRACERS 19059.

• 6

  letter from the War Office Letter from George Cockerill, 6 October 1916, BRACERS 75796.

• 7

  Miles Miles Malleson (1888–1969). For information on him, see BRACERS 19046, n.4.