In the same year, Ansell bought Black Lake Cottage, a country house in Farnham, Surrey where they would go at weekends and in summer.

During her honeymoon in Switzerland, she and Barrie adopted a St. Bernard puppy, Porthos, marking the start of her lifelong love of dogs.

[4] In 1897 Barrie met Sylvia Llewelyn Davies and her sons, first George, Jack and Peter, and later Michael and Nico and enjoyed a close friendship with the family, to the detriment of Ansell who felt neglected.

To fill her time, Ansell developed a strong interest in interior design and gardening which kept her occupied at both Black Lake Cottage and Leinster Corner.

Cannan had been courting sculptor Kathleen Bruce but was heartbroken when the latter accepted Robert Falcon Scott's marriage proposal.

She was working for the war effort rolling bandages and packing medical supplies when Barrie came to find her and offered financial help, giving her an annual allowance which carried on until his death in 1937.