BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, [4 DEC. 1918]
BRACERS 19394. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<letterhead>
Manor House
Garsington
Oxford1^, 2
Wed.3

My dearest Darling

Your dear little letter has just come. I am sorry you are so tired4 — Let me know all about your health please — Tell Gladys5 not to post the letter to the typists — when you hear from C.A.,6 if he agrees to go to Lynton,7 as I hope and expect he will, it might be better to tell him you are giving him a typewriter for Xmas — but do as you think best. Only I don’t see how else you can make sure of his not buying one before then. I think I should like to share the typewriter with you and make it a joint present — would you mind? I was technically to blame for the loss of the other. We could go halves.

I am living a peaceful life here and getting on with my work. I have no news — except quite a nice little letter from Eve.8

My Cherub, I cannot tell you how full my heart is of love and tenderness to you — Be happy, Beloved — there is no reason why you shouldn’t be —

I am very fit and well this week, with lots of energy for work.

Now I must stop. I hope you give Miles9 my marmalade — it should be finished before Lynton. Goodbye my heart’s Love — Take care of yourself — don’t do too much or get over-tired — All all my love —

B

• 1

  [document] Document 200384.

• 2

  [envelope] The Lady Constance Malleson | 34 Russell Chambers | Bury Street | W.C.1. Pmk: GARSINGTON | OXFORD | 4 DE | 18

• 3

  [date] The date is taken from the envelope’s postmark.

• 4

  so tired Colette was pregnant; BR was not the father.

• 5

  Gladys Gladys W. Rinder worked for the No-Conscription Fellowship. For information on her, see BRACERS 19044, n.5.

• 6

  C.A. (Reginald) Clifford Allen (1889–1939). For information on him, see BRACERS 19046, n.7.

• 7

  Lynton Lynton, Devon. The threesome spent Christmas there that year and the following year. Colette went on her own in 1920, the year that BR was in China.

• 8

  nice little letter from Eve Evelyn Walsh Hall, film and stage actress. Colette described her as a new acquaintance, not attractive and perhaps a bit rigid although a great admirer of BR (c.20 Aug. 1918; BRACERS 113152). She appeared with both Colette and Miles Malleson in John Masefield’s The Faithful in April 1919. Later that year she was in The Trojan Women with Colette for its first performance in Oxford on 5 Sept. By 1956 she was an acting coach, still in touch with Gilbert Murray and Sybil Thorndike, who had both been associated with the production of The Trojan Women. She sent BR a brochure “Coaching for Stage Screen Radio Television” with an introduction by Sybil Thorndike and a blurb by Gilbert Murray with her letter of 6 February 1956 (BRACERS 1450). The letter is not extant.

• 9

  Miles Miles Malleson (1888–1969), Colette’s husband. For information on him, see BRACERS 19046, n.4.