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The Letters of Katherine Mansfield: Volume II

August 2, 1922

To S. S. Koteliansky

I hope you are better. If you need a doctor, Sorapure is a good man—intelligent and quiet. He does not discuss Lloyd George with one, either. This is a great relief. All the other English doctors that I know have just finished reading The Daily Mail by the time they reach me.

It is a pity that Lawrence is driven so far. I am sure that Western Australia will not help. The desire to travel is a great, real temptation. But does it do any good? It seems to me to correspond to the feelings of a sick man who thinks always ‘if only I can get away from here I shall be better.’ However—there is nothing to be done. One must go through with it. No one can stop that sick man, either, from moving on and on. His craving is stronger than he. But Lawrence, I am sure, will get well.

… I believe one can cure nobody, one can change nobody fundamentally. The born slave cannot become a free man. He can only become free-er. I have refused to believe that for years, and yet I am certain it is true, it is even a law of life. But it is equally true that hidden in the slave there are the makings of the free man. And these makings are very nice in——, very sensitive and generous. I love her for them. They make me want to help her as much as I can.

I am content. I prefer to leave our meeting to chance. To know you are there is enough. If I knew I was going to die I should even ask you definitely to come and see me.

page 235

For I should hate to die without one long, uninterrupted talk with you. But short of it—it does not greatly matter.