Mystery

There's a story behind this but I'll have to come back to tell you.
Can anyone read what the writing says? 

Update Sept 6th: The writing is on the back of a lovely Japanese-style painting glued to a small wooden cabinet. We only discovered it when we lifted the painting to restore the wood… I can't make up the first word but I think it reads "???? James with kindest remembrances". It’s been in the house for years but there’s no James in the family!