BR TO OTTOLINE MORRELL, [23 DEC. 1911]
BRACERS 17384. ALS. Morrell papers #295, Texas
Proofread by K. Blackwell et al.

<letterhead>
Trinity College,
Cambridge.1
In the train
Sat. evg.

My Darling

Here I am nearing the end of a tedious slow Xmas journey — all the trains crowded and late, but I am not late as I have caught earlier trains than the ones I meant to get. However at the moment I am turned out at Hungerford and I don’t know when I shall get further. My worst misfortune is that I have had no tea — a rare disaster with me!

I wonder how you are getting on at Oxford — whether Mrs M is nice to you — how your cold is and your eyes and your head. I long to know everything.

I hope this may reach you on Xmas Day — I wish Julian a merry Xmas. At Reading I thought of the last time I was there, when I went to get a letter from you — it was a very delightful letter, at the end of your time at Marienbad.

Yesterday I came near dying of starvation — I had only time for a little bit of bread for lunch, and for supper my aunt had nothing but a chocolate pudding and a mess of rice and onion, which in spite of great efforts I could not gulp down.

However an egg was produced and I survived till morning.

Abercrombie’s book2 is rather good — it takes time to get under way, but in the end it produces an effort. It is strong and full of substance; but it has no magic — at least I find none. I think it quite worth reading. But nobody writes about love in a way that really satisfies me except Shelley. It is generally too physical — and too little in relation to the outer world. I don’t feel love a refuge from the world but a light to illumine the world.

Now I am travelling on again, and with any luck I shall reach the Whiteheads to dinner.

My Aunt was very reminiscent. She began talking of my mother, whom she evidently disliked.

It is impossible to write in this carriage as I am receiving attentions from a very lively little boy. Goodnight Darling. I do hope you are better.

Your loving
B

• 1

  [document] Document 000295. Proofread against a colour scan of the original. A circled “295” is on the first page of the letter.

• 2

  Abercrombie’s book Possibly Emblems of Love by Lascelles Abercrombie, although in the title-page.