Also my being poor as a church mouse has a considerable effect, partly psychological, because it makes her underestimate me, and partly physically, because she is a lively soul and likes good times, and I can’t give them to her. I don’t blame the poor kid a bit for this, and I think at her age she deserves a damn sight more gadding about and seeing people and things than I can give her, but it’s here that there’s likely to be complications. I hope I shall be wide-minded enough to understand them if they happen.

3. Re career, professions, etc: Present position:–

a) £6 owed me by Lawrence and Wishart. Have written a strong letter demanding this, but it won’t come in time for me to go to Oxford with my darling.

b) Edgell Rickwood wants to see me re Poems 1936. I’m convinced he owes me some cash on this, and I’m a bloody fool not to have made some definite financial arrangements at the outset. The book is still selling, and Edgell has promised to bring it out in paper covers for 2/6d, which will sell another 200 or so, but I shan’t let him until he agrees to pay me or make some arrangements. He’s also apparently quite anxious to bring out another book of mine, even if it’s only 15 or 20 poems. MUST GET THEM WRITTEN BY FEBRUARY. Think he must want to discuss money – can’t think of anything else. Shall see him Tuesday, together with the Oxford–Cambridge Joint Party meeting.

c) Pennay-Rowsell of Frederick Muller Ltd shows definite interest in my detective story, and wants a first look at it when its finished. If it’s good I don’t think I’ll let them have them, but I’ll try someone else – even Gollancz if necessary.

d) I’m doing some articles, probably unpaid, for Eric Cook’s General News Service: will spread me a bit anyway
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e) Very shadowy – have met West, Day Lewis, Blumerfield, Goldman, Cook, Edgell, Madge, Randal Swingler and others at a meeting and want very much to start going to their wretched parties. I came down to Blackheath with Charles Madge.

f) Jack Cohen tells me I am fancied for the editorship of a S. African People’s Front weekly nespaper – with a good wage. If it wasn’t necessary to sign a long contract I believe I’d go tomorrow. But I’m not quite sure whether I’ve got pluck enough: and Diana, who seems to be my only really important link with England, comes into the picture rather insistently.