13 May

Two days until the ball. Poachers got the last of our lambs, do no more mutton for dinner. Bother! I do love mutton. I wonder if Ernest is a poacher. If he is, I do hope he will save all the mutton for me. Uncle Jack has gone back up to London quite all of a sudden, so perhaps he will bring the mutton home with him when he returns, which must be soon! Mad activity about the ball. Caterers and cook not getting along entirely. No one allowed a day off, as the house must be spotless.

Later—a detente (Political Economy) with the result that cook will be dinner and the caterers will contain themselves to the pavilions.