BR TO OTTOLINE MORRELL, [12 JULY 1911]
BRACERS 17226. ALS. Morrell papers #146, Texas
Proofread by K. Blackwell et al.

Upper Wyche.1^, 2
July 12. midnight.

My Darling

How I long to be with you these lovely hot nights. They are so beautiful. I hope they will last on. — Young Arnold Foster has quite fastened on to us. He is lodging in this house, but sleeps out on the hillside. He has all his meals with us, and came to bathe with us. I have decided that I like him very much. He is worried by having just inherited an estate, which he feels a conscience about — only he doesn’t want to give up painting, tho’ I should rather guess his painting is not much good. He is very witty, casual and slangy. Evidently the Trevelyans oppress him — he speaks of them as “people with all the right ideas”. His favourite poet is Walt, and he has an exaggerated respect for Shaw. He says “people think you can’t be a genius without being eccentric and immoral, but you can, and I’m going to do it.” He eats almost nothing, and doesn’t smoke or drink. He is usually making fun of people and things, but is very serious au fond.

I am glad to have got to know him.

Julian’s Lear has come; I will bring it on Friday. I enclose Roger’s note in case you want it back.

My time here has been quite successful from the point of view of getting on with the book, and I think North has enjoyed it.

By the way, you must discount my praise of Arnold Foster because when he heard of the book I was writing he became violently interested and at once sat down to read it. I told him the first four chapters were gone to be typed.

It really is true that I have a fresh store of energy. It took me some time to get under way with this book, but now that I am under way it goes very well and I find my mind in very good order. I am always afraid of growing stupid but it hasn’t begun yet, quite the contrary. It really is fortunate to have work to do that one believes in. Doing this book has given me a map of the theory of knowledge, which I hadn’t before. From that point of view it will have been a great help to my own work. I don’t believe I shall be able to keep off another big book very long, tho’ I believe I ought to. So many people are in such muddles that I feel I can’t let them alone any longer.

I don’t believe I should have had the energy for a big job but for you — I don’t really. So anything I do henceforth must be put down to your credit.

Darling I must go to bed as it is late. This letter is all about myself, how shocking! It is the last I shall write before seeing you — that is a joy to think of. Goodnight Darling. I love you with all my heart and mind and soul.

Your
B.

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