BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, [21 SEPT. 1919]
BRACERS 19565. 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
Sunday3

My Darling Love

I wrote yesterday before I got your telegram4 — It did not tell me whether you can come here, but after long thought I concluded that you probably can, as it is not likely, even if you get a job with Bennett,5 that rehearsal will begin at once. But please telegraph to me and telephone to C.A.6 as soon as you get back Monday, as I want to know.

I hope Miles7 is not seriously ill — Never mind if it is latish Monday, but telegraph and say you will come, if you possibly can come — it will be a great great disappointment to me if you can’t. But if on Monday night you are not sure of coming Wed., at least for one night, telegraph that you are not coming, and we will meet in town. I must know one thing or other for certain by that time. — Post going — All love my Darling — Forgive haste and business. I can’t tell you how I long for you here.8

B

• 1

  [document] Document 200552.

• 2

  [envelope] The Lady Constance Malleson | 6 Mecklenburgh Square | London W.C.1. Pmk: WEST LULWORTH | 21 SP | 19

• 3

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

• 4

  your telegram “Going Manchester tonight back Monday evening seeing Arnold Bennett Tuesday all love” (BRACERS 107493).

• 5

  job with Bennett It is not known what that job might have been. Arnold Bennett (1867–1931) was a successful writer mainly known for his novels and journalism. He did, however, also write plays. His The Sacred and the Profane, adapted from his 1903 novel Sacred and Profane Love, was playing in Liverpool. The play opened at the Aldwych Theatre in London in October 1919 (“First Nights in Liverpool”, The Times, 17 Sept. 1919, p. 8; “‘Sacred and Profane Love’; Mr. Bennett’s Play at the Aldwych”, The Times, 11 Nov. 1919, p. 12). That same year he and Nigel Playfair brought the company of the Birmingham Repertory Theatre to the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith to stage John Drinkwater’s play Abraham Lincoln. (“‘Abraham Lincoln’ Revisited”, The Times, 28 Nov. 1919) to great success. The following year Colette acted in Bennett and Edward Knoblock’s play, Milestones, for the Frank Forbes Robertson touring company.

• 6

  C.A. (Reginald) Clifford Allen (1889–1939). For information on him, see BRACERS 19046, n.4.

• 7

  Miles Miles Malleson (1888–1969), Colette’s husband. For information on him, see BRACERS 19046, n.7.

• 8

  here Newlands Farm.