Then, of course, when I confessed, he would have been angry. But I think he’d have been gratified too. I should never have gone to a polytechnic in the first place, as he had often said. His anger would have been for my idleness and indecision, his gratification because I had found out my error in time. Architecture, of course, wasn’t academic enough for his taste but it was a lot more academic than psychology and business studies. He’d have to make inquiries. A course for me would be found at a “proper university.” I could start in October. Max would have been in his element researching this, it might even have distracted him from his book. And meanwhile? Surely I’d have been sent home to Suffolk for six months, there would have been no point in my remaining in London with nothing to do but get into mischief. After all, the architecture course would probably not even have been in London, I might first have to take another A-level. He’d have been full of plans, not the least of them very likely being legitimately to evict me from old Mrs. Fisherton’s. I’m sure he and Selina regretted ever letting me into the place.

I would have got into a course somewhere or other, maybe in Scotland or the north of England, and eventually got an architecture degree. And, who knows, perhaps it would have been me and not Richard Rogers designing the Millennium Dome. What is certain is that I’d never have met the people who lived at Silver’s and I’d never have climbed the roofs of Maida Vale. I’d never have met my husband.

But Max didn’t see me. He was too busy with his book and, in the event, according to Selina, did meet its deadline of May 1. Was there anyone else I could consult? My parents would simply urge me to keep on with psychology and business studies. So, probably, would my supervisor at GUP. If I asked her, Caroline Bodmer would certainly ask me why she had scarcely seen me this past term, and then, hopeful of seeing the back of me, advise me to change to social anthropology or media studies. The first day of the new term was a Tuesday. I made an appointment to meet my supervisor and “talk about my future” on the Thursday afternoon at two.