Flyleaf inscribed ‘Diary of Margaret Smith temporarily resident at S. Hilda’s East’. This volume covers the early years of reading, writing and lecturing on Islamic mysticism, ‘Rabi’a the Mystic’ being published in November 1927, An Introduction to the History of Mysticism in 1930 and Studies in Early Mysticism in 1931. M S also begins to study Hebrew and Syriac. She also begins to teach Arabic to individual pupils. She begins lecturing at Goldsmiths’ College on the Literary Study of the Bible on 30 September 1931; at Dalston Literary Institute on 1 October 1931, and at Kennaway Hall (East London) on 4 June 1932, and gives occasional lectures at the School of Oriental Studies. She also continues to give occasional missionary addresses. Regular meetings with friends include Dorothy Tarrant, Miss K Jex-Blake, and ‘Toby’ (as in Volume 7) and she is a member of the University Women’s Club. She attends meetings of various missionary societies and committees and attends church regularly at a number of London churches. She holidays in Scotland, Devon, Austria and Switzerland. M S applies to Girton for a Fellowship in January 1928. She begins to attend occasional retreats at Pleshey, near Chelmsford, from October 1928. From early 1929 there are references to meetings of and work for the Skilled Employment Bureau. She continues to attend Girton events and to visit Girton for periods of research. Shortly after taking up the Jex-Blake Fellowship at Girton in October 1932, M S vacates rooms at 57 George Street (having lived at various other London addresses during this period) and appears to use the University Women’s Club as a London base. While at Girton she continues to give weekly lectures at Kennaway Hall and to work at the School of Oriental Studies from time to time. She notes attendance at numerous College events, lectures given by Girton colleagues etc, and she appears to be a regular member of the Cambridge Women’s Research Club. She is awarded the Gibson Prize in November 1932. Girton friends at this time include M G Jones, Mary Cartwright, M C Bradbrook, F M Smith, Miss Murray and Helen McMorran. M S makes a trip to the near east from March to May 1933, including Jerusalem, Cairo and Damascus, for a mix of work and sightseeing.