BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, 24 SEPT. 1918
BRACERS 19365. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<letterhead>
57 Gordon Square,
London. W.C.1^, 2
Tuesday evg.
24 Sp. 1918

Beloved,

Believe me I have hated to give you pain. But I do honestly believe, rightly or wrongly, that what I have done3 is best for you as well as for me. I do want to keep alive in you what is fine and great, and what I love in you. It is constantly in danger of being crushed out by love of excitement and admiration, and I must do what I can against that, for your sake as well as for mine. If nothing were involved except your health, that alone would have made it right to ask this sacrifice from you. You have been generous and forbearing since you have understood part of what I felt. I recognize that for the moment it must diminish your love for me, but it won’t in the long run, when you come to feel that it has been best for you.

My heart’s Love, don’t let the good in you die. No one who really loves you can sit by idly and watch that happen without trying to prevent it.

Try to care about the world a little, and to realize that you can help or injure the world greatly through me. A life devoted to mere pleasure is not the best that you are capable of — If I thought it was, I should not love you as I do.

I fear all this will seem to you priggish, but it is sincere and I must say it.

Thank you for saving me from despair.

Your
B.

• 1

  [document] Document 200357.

• 2

  [envelope] The Lady Constance Malleson | 34 Russell Chambers | Bury Street | W.C.1

• 3

  what I have done BR had asked her to stop seeing Colonel J. Mitchell of the United States Army. For information on Mitchell, see BRACERS 19366, n.4.