BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, [16 AUG. 1919]
BRACERS 19530. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<West Lulworth?>
<letterhead>
70, Overstrand Mansions,
Prince of Wales Road,
Battersea, S.W.1^, 2
Sat. mg.3

My Beloved

This is only a line as it must catch the early post, so it must be written before breakfast — I do hope you will get rested and fed at Cox Green.4 Give Priscilla5 my love and tell her to find out how little you have been eating. I am glad on your account that it is cooler.

Dearest Love I love the thing you sent me for my watch-chain — Whenever I get alone I take it out — I am so glad too to have that date commemorated6 — If your watch isn’t found I will give you another with that date.7

A week from today I shall feel your arms about me, my dearest, my heart’s Joy, my lovely Darling — I long for you my Heart’s Comrade8 —

B

• 1

  [document] Document 200517.

• 2

  [envelope] The Lady Constance Malleson | c/o Priscilla Countess Annesley | Cox Green | near Maidenhead. Pmk: WAREHAM | 10 PM | SE

• 3

  [date] The date is assumed because of the watch-chain mention.

• 4

  Cox Green The country home of Colette’s mother was located in Cox Green, near Maidenhead, Berks.

• 5

  Priscilla Priscilla, Lady Annesley (1870–1941), second wife of Hugh Annesley, 5th Earl of Annesley (1831–1908). Colette describes her mother as “among the most beautiful women of her day” with a love of bright colours and walking (After Ten Years [J. Cape, 1931], pp. 12–14).

• 6

  that date commemorated The date of their reconciliation at Lulworth near the end of June 1919.

• 7

  watch isn’t found I will give you another with that date The first mention that she had lost the watch that BR gave her was in his letter of 2 August (BRACERS 19516). He mentions it again in his next letter of 4 August (BRACERS 19517): “I believe the inscription was ‘Colette, April somethingth, 1917 … the day we went to Richmond.” The watch had been purchased in September 1917.

• 8

  Heart’s Comrade  For information on the use of this term, see BRACERS 19145, n.12.