"During the eleven years of my life with him in England, from 1889 to 1900, when C.W. Leadbeater provided for me and for my education, life was not smooth. He had no means of his own, and had to earn his living as a tutor to Mr. Sinnett's son, then as a teacher giving English lessons to foreigners in London, and later as a journalist on the staff of the London office of the Pioneer newspaper of India.
There was a period when his income was so low, that he and I lived in a tiny room, for which seven shillings were paid for rent. It had just enough room for two beds, a table, a couple of chairs, a box or two, and a wash-stand. His considerable collection of books was tied up in bundles and placed under the two beds. I had my classes to attend and he his lessons to give or his office to go. My share was to look after our very modest housekeeping. I recall a day when the only money in hand was one half-penny, though few shillings were expected in the evening. Fortunately he had still some good clothes left, for it was de rigueur that the meetings at Mr. Sinnett's, of which Mr. Leadbeater was secretary, all should be in full evening dress.
There were occasions when his dress suit and gold watch were pledged with the pawn-broker.
There were ups and downs for him; and a particularly trying time in 1906, when his greatest colleague, Annie Besant, seemed to break the bonds of a deep friendship between them. But his attitude was one of serenity.