Nursery in the Nineties
'Nellie' was born in 1881, her father a popular novelist, her mother from a famous American acting family. She was never sent to school, was often in poor health and developed a crushing self-consciousness in company. The nursery at home therefore marked the limits of her universe through her formative years; yet it was in this hothouse atmosphere that 'Nellie' began to read, write stories and, with her three brothers, evolve the rituals and games that dominated their lives.