BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, 1 MAR. 1946
BRACERS 19827. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

March 1, 19461

Dearest Colette

It was a very great joy to see you again2 after such a long time, and to find it so possible still to talk intimately and to feel a still vital relation. I have been ill almost continuously since then, but am now recovered — flu and bronchitis. Peter3 has been ordered by the Doctors to leave Cambridge and is in N. Wales. Her illness,4 which was very serious, drained me of vitality and brought on my illness. She will never again live in Cambridge; I shall live in College in term time and join her during Conrad’s holidays.5

When am I to see you again? Please let me know your possibilities. I could come to London for the day almost any day except a Thursday.

Very much love.

Your
B.

• 1

  [document] Document 200833.

• 2

  great joy to see you again They had met at her sister’s London flat on February 5th. He had arrived before luncheon and stayed on until the evening when he had to leave for his lecture at University College. Their talk had been “long and intimate” (“Letters to Bertrand Russell from Constance Malleson, 1916–1969”, 2, p. 83). In a letter to Phyllis Urch on 31 January, Colette wrote: “B.R. is coming to see me at 12.30.... I have not seen him since July 1938.” She was planning the menu.

• 3

  Peter Patricia (“Peter”) Russell, née Spence (1910–2004). She and BR were married from 1936 until 1952.

• 4

  Her illness Not an illness, but an attempted suicide by overdose. Colette did not learn the truth until 1949.

• 5

  Conrad’s holidays Conrad Sebastian Robert Russell, born 15 April 1937 to BR and his wife Patricia. Conrad was attending Dartington Hall school in Devon and thus was only home during the holidays.