BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, [9 MAR. 1917]
BRACERS 19132. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<London>
Friday night.1^, 2^, 3

My Beloved

Your letter4 from Brighton5 has just come. It has moved me more than I can say. During all this time that I have hardly seen you my love for you has been growing — its roots have penetrated deeper, and it has absorbed more and more of me. My whole being cries out for you — I want most terribly to be with you altogether — it is an ache and a great pain that I cannot be. It has made me live in dreams of the future, when perhaps it will be possible. — My dear one, I do know how it must have hurt writing what you did about Miles.6 It is terrible that things can die in that way, and the first time it happens it is bewildering. My tender thoughts are with you in it, my Darling.

C.E.M.7 says that C.A.8 seemed very well and happy, much more so than before — she was much cheered up.  I am glad.

I can manage dinner 15th,9 and shall love it. 16th and 17th I have the Nat. Committee,10 so I hope 15th will be all right for you.

My loved one, Goodnight — I love you, I love you, my Heart.

B.

• 1

  [document] Document 200105.

• 2

  [envelope] The Lady Constance Malleson | Royal Crescent Hotel | Brighton. Pmk: LONDON.W.C. | 9.15 AM | MAR 10 17B

• 3

  [date] Colette wrote “9 March 1917” on the letter.

• 4

  Your letter Her letter of 8 March 1917 (BRACERS 112988.)

• 5

  Brighton Colette was recuperating from an illness, staying with her husband, Miles, at the Royal Crescent Hotel in Brighton. They were later joined by Colette’s mother, Priscilla, who was footing the bill.

• 6

  Miles Miles Malleson, Colette’s husband. For Further information on him, see BRACERS 19046, n.4.

• 7

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

• 8

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

• 9

  manage dinner 15th This contradicts what he writes in his letter of 7 March (BRACERS 19131) — there he indicates that he can have dinner on Friday, i.e. the 16th March 1917. One of these letters may not be dated correctly.

• 10

  Nat. Committee Of the No-Conscription Fellowship.