Lots of things happened. We finally moved to Wolfington Road in South London but, before that, my eldest sister came home from Spain and Rosie got married. It was such a lovely wedding - right in the country in a lovely old church at Crockham Hall, Kent. Annie Smith arranged for the whole affair to take place at their farm, ‘Uplands Farm’, at Froghole near Edenbridge. I was chief bridesmaid with Annie and four other children all in white silk. My dress was of a primrose colour.

Stephani had left us and moved into some apartments as she did not like my sister, Amy. This broke up the home and my mother took a house, Clifton Villa in Clifton Road. Stephani came there and stayed a while. There I met Guy Lewis and fell in love. This episode I have written previous to this on page twenty - fourth line down, so I need not refer to it again.

Stephani eventually packed up and went to Paris with her husband. They had kept their marriage a secret and I did not hear from her for some time when suddenly I received a letter with a blue labelled ticket enclosed - full fare paid right from Croydon to Paris!  

 Even now I have a vision of her and fancy I hear the’ flou flou’ of her silken skirt as she moved about my room when she nursed me through an illness.

Edmund, the painter, and she were living at 29 Rue Boulard Paris X1V. The letter said, “Come quickly. We are all longing to see you. The boys are all here and Paris is lovely. “

Now, I had never seen the boys - all of them artists, sculptors and poets and writers etc. I’d heard of them and was thrilled at the idea of being with real artists. I had taken up painting and daubed about with flower pieces and sold them here and there when I could get near shops. A few shillings was useful in those days.

It was not easy to get my mother’s consent for me to go but the poor dear had so many other things to think about what with money troubles.

“If I do not go now, I never shall,” I insisted and she gave in.

I threw my arms around her and kissed her - hating to leave but drawn on by an inner force.