BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, [27 JULY 1917]
BRACERS 19190. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

My Dearest Darling1^, 2

I am so longing for you — the little glimpse the other night was heavenly, but so brief! I don’t know what is passing in your mind — whether you are still unhappy — whether you feel you can be happy away — Don’t feel bound to come if you don’t have the impulse.

I am getting overworked and in a worrying frame of mind from fatigue. I shall be all right when we get started! I understand a railway-man is to be put up tomorrow,3 and will get all the Trade Union votes — if he seems at all satisfactory I shall withdraw in his favour. I should be really glad now if I could honestly avoid getting on.

I wrote to the inn4 saying one room would do. I left you to telegraph for the motor. You can’t imagine how I long to be off — It is 10.20 Paddington Sunday. I will take both tickets, and wait in the train for you — as near the engine as I conveniently can. If they won’t let you on the platform you can get a platform ticket.

My loved one, the joy goes out of life when I am away from you. Everything grows difficult and wearisome — I long for you more than I can possibly say, my Heart’s Comrade.5

B.

• 1

  [document] Document 200170.

• 2

  [date] The letter is dated from its content of planning their vacation.

• 3

  a railway-man is to be put up tomorrow For election at a meeting organized by the London and Home Counties District to found a Workers’ and Soldiers’ Council, inspired by events in Russia. The meeting was held in the Brotherhood Church, Southgate Road, Hackney, on Saturday, 28 July, and was broken up by an angry mob before the Council could be created. BR writes about this event in his Autobiography (2: 31–2). On 11 September 1917 BR wrote to Colette that Sylvia Pankhurst had defeated him in the postponed election for a place on the Council (BRACERS 19210).

• 4

  the inn The Norton Arms in Knighton.

• 5

  Heart’s Comrade For use of this term, see BRACERS 19145, n.12.