BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, [14 NOV. 1919]
BRACERS 19581. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<letterhead>
70, Overstrand Mansions,
Prince of Wales Road,
Battersea, S.W.1^, 2
Friday3

Beloved

This is written before seeing you act4 — I have to go to a U.D.C. function directly after, which lasts from 4.30 till 10.

Would you mind giving your thoughts to a practical problem? Swinnerton5 wants my flat as soon after Nov 25. as may be. I go to Holland6 on Dec. 3. Can you give any hope of coming there between those dates any time? I must know before Monday, when I see him and make final arrangements. You seem just now to dislike being with me there, but I should be sorry if we could not go again before I leave for Holland. On the other hand if you won’t come there is no point in losing Swinnerton’s guineas.

I count on you at Lynton7 at Xmas with C.A.8

Good luck to you Darling and all my heart — I am glad you are writing.

B.

• 1

  [document] Document 200571.

• 2

  [envelope] The Lady Constance Malleson | 6 Mecklenburgh Square | W.C.1. Pmk: BATTERSEA | 1.15 PM | 14 NOV 19

• 3

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

• 4

  before seeing you act In the play Shakuntala.

• 5

  Swinnerton wants my flat Frank Swinnerton (1884–1982), the writer was BR’s tenant at The Studio, a small property leased by BR and Colette as a place to be together away from others. Problems in their relationship prevented them from using it frequently and it was rented to Swinnerton in December 1918. The landlord sold the property, forcing Swinnerton to move, which he did, to BR’s flat at 34 Russell Chambers. For further information on The Studio, see BRACERS 19240, n.9.

• 6

  go to Holland BR was travelling there to meet with Wittgenstein for the first time since the end of the War.

• 7

  LyntonThe three of them had spent Christmas there the year before.

• 8

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