BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, [14 DEC. 1917]
BRACERS 19259. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

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

My dearest Darling

I have just heard that C.A. will see me at 4 tomorrow4 so I have put off my engagement at 10 Mecklenburgh Square.5 I am free the whole day and evening, except for seeing C.A. — and I don’t suppose I shall be allowed a long visit. Unless I hear from you, I shall come to you straight from him, arriving probably about 5.15. But if you are free in the day as well as evening, why shouldn’t we have an early lunch and a walk on the Heath,6 and you have tea in a shop while I see him? Let me know by telephone tomorrow morning if that is possible.

I wonder what makes you feel Mendel is all lies.7 I dare say you are right but I don’t know.

I think Gilbert is capable of passionate love8 — at least that is how he feels to me. His fault is contempt.  But I can’t believe in Gwen, from your account of her.9

I have had a fearfully busy day and now I am off to dine with the Sangers10 in Chelsea.

I do hope you will soon find a flat that will do11 — I must hear more of your feelings about Gilbert.

Goodnight my sweetest love, my dear.

B.

• 1

  [document] Document 200247.

• 2

  [envelope] The Lady Constance Malleson | 6 Mecklenburgh Square | W.C. 1 Pmk: LONDON W.C. | 8.15 PM | 14 DEC 17

• 3

  [date] Colette wrote “14 Dec 1917” on the letter.

• 4

  C.A. will see me at 4 tomorrow (Reginald) Clifford Allen (1889–1939). He had been released from prison because of his poor health. He was staying in a nursing home at 10 Rosslyn Hill. The meeting is recorded in BR’s pocket diary on Saturday, 15 December, at 4 p.m. For information on Allen, see BRACERS 19046, n.7.

• 5

  10 Mecklenburgh Square It is not known who lived at this address.

• 6

  the Heath Hampstead Heath.

• 7

  what makes you feel Mendel is all lies The part of Colette’s letter of 14 December containing this remark was removed when the letter was typed (BRACERS 113104).

• 8

  Gilbert is capable of passionate love Gilbert Cannan (1884–1955), writer and translator. Colette’s letter of 14 December only discusses Gilbert Cannan’s lack of honesty; she thinks he is “rotted at the core”. The remark about his capacity for love must have been removed when the letter was typed (BRACERS 113104).

• 9

  Gwen from your account of her Cannan, who was married, was involved with a young South African woman, Gwen Wilson.  His wife, Mary, would be given a judicial separation the following year. The part of Colette’s letter of 14 December containing this remark was removed when the letter was typed (BRACERS 113104).

• 10

  the Sangers Charles Percy Sanger (1871–1930), a long-time friend of BR’s from Cambridge and his wife, Dora (1865–1955). Sanger was a lawyer who taught occasionally at the London School of Economics.

• 11

  a flat that will do Colette had written on 14 December that she was looking for a flat near the British Museum but had not been successful (BRACERS 113104).