BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, [16 FEB. 1918]
BRACERS 19291. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<London>

Dearest Darling1^, 2

Your note3 just came — I am very happy. Ashford4 is all right but I do feel a selfish brute5 — I do really.a Nothing but prison would have made me do such a thing. Bless you my Beloved.

Yes I will call for you before Litvinov6 and we will dine together if you can.

I will ring up Monday morning. Haste — All my love, my Heart’s Joy.

B

• 1

  [document] Document 200279.

• 2

  [date] Colette wrote “16 Feb. 1918.” and “Before prison” on the letter.

• 3

  Your note Her letter of 16 February 1918 (BRACERS 113129).

• 4

  Ashford Colette and BR vacationed in a house, The Avenue, owned by Mrs. Agnes Woodhouse, near Ashford Carbonel, Shrops. For further information, see BRACERS 19217, n.4.

• 5

  I do feel a selfish brute She had asked for and been granted release from the play she was scheduled to do, Blanchette, by Eugene Brieux in order to go to Ashford with BR.

• 6

  before Litvinov Maxim Litvinov (1876–1951), Soviet government representative in Britain. Later in the year he would be arrested by the British Government and end up in Brixton Prison at the same time that BR was there. Colette and BR were both planning to go to a meeting at which Litvinov would speak; illness prevented Colette from attending. See BRACERS 19293, n.5.

Textual Notes

• a

  really Underlined three times.