BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, [7 JAN. 1917]
BRACERS 19103. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<London>
Sunday1^, 2

My dearest Darling

Your beautiful letter3 is such a happiness to me — I understand the mood you express — mine shall suit it. My dear one, during all this time my love for you has been growing stronger and deeper — when I do not live for the world, everything goes away — and living for the world, I find, wants long times of quiet meditation, when one achieves a sort of calm, and learns to dominate the things that hurt almost beyond endurance. It doesn’t do for me to have my life too full, even of what is best — the thoughts that are trying to get born become painful. But I am longing for you, every day more — I want to lie in your arms — I want the sense it brings of being folded in an infinite peace — O my dear one, you are so infinitely tender and loving and patient with me, and I do love you most profoundly. Goodnight my lovely one, my Heart.

B.

• 1

  [document] Document 200075.

• 2

  [date] Colette wrote “7 January 1917” on the letter.

• 3

  Your beautiful letter Colette had written on 6 January that she felt something like “the Ancient Mariner ever since 1917 started.” She was now feeling quiet and would like to stay that way — it would suit her mood (BRACERS 112993). The “Ancient Mariner” is an allusion to Samuel Coleridge Taylor’s poem, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” (1798).