BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, [15 FEB. 1918]
BRACERS 19289. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<London>
Friday1^, 2^, 3

My dearest Darling

I hated leaving you last night, but it was better — I slept like a top and have done mountains of work today. I have practically decided, in consequence, to do my Lippincott book4 before I go in.5 I worked out a scheme of it today, and I think with a little effort I can manage it, which will be a relief to my sense of order: I want to be free for philosophy, both while I am in and when I come out. It would vex me to have an alien topic hanging over me all the time.

Hunter6 is going to get up a dinner in my honour some time before I go in! I hope you will manage to be there if it is not when you are working. I wonder what has happened today about your job. The Admirable Crichton7 interested me, in spite of your having such a poor part — I should have thought it would be a success with the public.8

Darling, I hope you slept well and got rested — I felt you were very tired last night. You are so wonderful with me, so infinitely tender and loving and gentle — I can’t tell you what infinite happiness you give me — And when I am away from you I feel your love all about me, like warmth in spring. I don’t know that I have ever been happier than I am now.

Goodnight sweet Love. May good angels guard you —

B.

• 1

  [document] Document 200277.

• 2

  [envelope] The Lady Constance Malleson | 6 Mecklenburgh Square | W.C.1. Pmk: LONDON W. | 1.15 AM | 16 FEB 18

• 3

  [date] The date is taken from “Friday” and the postmark.

• 4

  my Lippincott bookRoads to Freedom which was in the end was not published by Lippincott. Allen & Unwin published it in the U.K. in December 1918. An American edition by Henry Holt and Company did not appear until 1919.

• 5

  go in BR had been sentenced to a six-month term in prison.

• 6

  Hunter Ernest E. Hunter, secretary of the No-Conscription Fellowship.

• 7

  The Admirable Crichton Both Colette and Miles had roles in the film version of this play by James M. Barrie. Filming had begun in mid-December 1917. It was directed by G.B. Samuelson; Basil Gill was the lead actor. In a letter of 14 December 1917, Colette wrote: “mine is the most deadly part anybody could imagine. Miles will soon be finished with his, but mine will go on a bit longer” (BRACERS 113104).

• 8

  thought it would be a success with the public This remark is puzzling. Filming only ended in late January. Had it not met with success? It was released in the U.K. in February (imdb.com). There is nothing in Colette’s correspondence to shed further light on this comment.