BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, 11 FEB. 1918
BRACERS 19288. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<London>
11 Feb. ’181^, 2

My dearest Darling

Your letter today3 was a beauty letter — I loved it. I am so unspeakably happy with you now, my heart’s Love — I do love you, love you, love you —

This morning I slept till 10, having left word  I wasn’t to be called — then I went to my Dr, who hurt me a good deal, and kept me in discomfort for some hours afterwards — then Miss Madeline Z. Doty4 came to tea — she was not very interesting this time. Arthur Russell5 (who is a worm) has written to assure me that he remains full of friendly feeling none the less — I think of writing back to say I will remain his friend even if he is wounded at the front (which he takes good care not to be sent to) — He rouses all my most evil passions — why are some people so terribly abject?

Tomorrow, Isola Bella,6 seven o’clock — Dear Love, it will be a joy — I long for our day in the country — I feel your love going with me every moment and making all life warm and full of beauty — Goodnight sweet love.

B

• 1

  [document] Document 200275.

• 2

  [envelope] The Lady Constance Malleson | 6 Mecklenburgh Square | W.C.1. Pmk: LONDON.W.C. | 1.15 AM | FEB 12 18A

• 3

  Your letter today It is probably not extant. There is a long letter dated 9 February and a very brief one on 11 February (BRACERS 113126 and 113127).

• 4

  Madeline Z. Doty Madeleine Zabriskie Doty (1877–1963), American lawyer, journalist, suffragist, prison reformer, pacifist, and teacher.

• 5

  Arthur Russell BR’s cousin (1886–1934), the son of his uncle Rollo and his first wife, Alice Sophia. Arthur was brought up at Pembroke Lodge. BR was 14 when Arthur arrived along with his widowed father. Rollo stayed at PL until he re-married in 1891; he died in 1914 before the war began. The RA contains only one letter from Arthur, 30 March 1922 (BRACERS 73373).

• 6

  Isola Bella Possibly the Italian restaurant of that name at 15 Frith Street in Soho. It was open in 1939 owned by Pierino Micotti.