BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, [11 AUG. 1920]
BRACERS 19683. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<letterhead>
70, Overstrand Mansions,
Prince of Wales Road,
Battersea, S.W.1^, 2
Wed.3

My Darling Love

I have written every day, but sent letters to “The Theatre, Leicester”4 — I suppose that is why you didn’t get them —

All goes well with me, better by far than I expected. —

I think it is all right if I sign “B” and you sign “C”.5 — Do exactly as you like about addresses6 and all such points. I am glad you are working on the letters7 — I shall when I get off — till then fusses make it impossible —

My loved one, my heart is yours unalterably — I am sorry you didn’t get letters —

I dined with my brother8 last night and saw the last of him. I am sorry to write such scraps but there is so much business — Goodbye till tomorrow Beloved — I will try to write more then.

B.

• 1

  [document] Document 200686.

• 2

  [envelope] Miss Colette O’Niel | “Milestones” Co. | Opera House | Leicester. Pmk: BATTERSEA S.W.11 | 7.?5 PM | 11 AUG 20

• 3

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

• 4

  “The Theatre, Leicester” Her play was at the Royal Opera House.

• 5

  all right if I sign “B” and you sign “C” The extant letters from their book of letters use “L” for him and “M” for her. For information on their literary letters, see BRACERS 19585, n.6.

• 6

  about addresses The extant letters from their book of letters use fictitious addresses — Cheyne for Gordon Square and Edwardes for Mecklenburgh Square. For information on their literary letters, see BRACERS 19585, n.6.

• 7

  working on the letters Before BR left for China, he had returned to her all the letters that she had written to him since their relationship began. For information, see BRACERS 19585, n.6 and BRACERS 19630, n.8. BR did write one “book” letter when he was in China (BRACERS 19721). Both of them wrote “Russian” literary letters. BR’s were written as if he had written them in Russia, but in fact they were written after his return in May 1920. They were published in his Autobiography (2: 104–8). Colette also wrote four literary letters to BR in Russia while she was on tour with a theatre company.

• 8

  my brother John Francis (“Frank”) Russell (1865–1931). For information on him, see BRACERS 19046, n.3.