BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, [10 FEB. 1917]
BRACERS 19122. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<London>
Sat. aft.1^, 2

My Beloved

I found 2 letters here3 when I got home just now — dear letters — thank you for them. Yes, after the war there will be wonderful times for us — if one can live so long and remain sane. I often feel madness lurking in corners — but I suppose that is mere fancy. — At Macclesfield4 I stayed in a house in the country near — heavenly bright weather with sparkling  snow — my hostess (a Mrs Greg) pointed out some hills on the horizon and said “on those hills is the Cat and Fiddle”.5 I nearly had a fit. — Manchester went off6 very well. My American C.O. (named Black)7 turned up and travelled back with me — a nice youth. I hate and loathe and detest the prospect of this week-end8 with Miss Marshall9 and her parents. I get back here Monday but have no spare moment.  My first spare moment probably will be Tuesdaya week — will you keep that evening (20th)?  But I may be going to see Allen10 then so it is uncertain — If I go, Wed. 21st would be free.

No time for more — My dear one, I love you always — my thoughts are with you day and night — Goodbye my Angel —

B.

• 1

  [document] Document 200095.

• 2

  [date] The date has been assigned by the archivist based on content.

• 3

  2 letters here Not extant.

• 4

  Macclesfield In Cheshire, just south of Manchester.

• 5

  Cat and Fiddle An isolated pub on the moors near Buxton, Derbyshire. For further information on it, see BRACERS 19065, n.5.

• 6

  Manchester went off BR had two speaking engagements there; on 8 February 1917 he spoke on education to an unidentified audience, and on the 9 February he spoke to the Gorton ILP.

• 7

  Black Thomas E. Black, a student representative of the American publication Challenge was in touch with BR at this time, asking him to write “a letter to the thinking men of American colleges”. In the end the article (C17.14; reprinted as 19 in Papers 14) did not appear in Challenge for reasons unknown. Black had founded Challenge in 1916 “to stimulate the free discussion of opinion among American students”; it ceased publication in 1919.

• 8

  this week-end in Leith Hill, Surrey.

• 9

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

• 10

  Allen (Reginald) Clifford Allen (1889–1939). For further information on him, see BRACERS 19046, n.7.

Textual Notes

• a

  Tuesday above deleted Monday