15 April

Uncle Jack is *not* sending me to London. He means for us to sojourn in Germany! He says it will be a wonderful learning opportunity for me to practice my (horrid) German in its homeland! I hate German! I hate Uncle Jack!

Later—letter from Ernest. My own sweet, loving boy! He says that he will meet me without fail in Germany! He hates German too. We will speak only English there. Mudie left this afternoon on the 4:05. She has her bridge game this evening in town. Uncle Jack has gone with her. Not to bridge.

14 April

Mudie has told Uncle Jack that she believes I need to socialize more and so Uncle Jack has agreed that Miss Prism and I are to travel in the Autumn. At last, I will go to London! And for practice, Uncle Jack will arrange for several luncheons to be held here, but also for a charity ball to be here. I fon't think that I will like charity balls. They don't sound gay at all!

13 April

Today Mudie and Miss Prism took a day trip, and Uncle Jack and I stayed in and played games. I asked Uncle Jack to teach me to play cards, but he says gambling is not only improper for a young girl, but also entirely stupid for anyone at all. Oh, why can't I learn anything useful or amusing in this house?! I really can't see why everyone insists on treating me like a child!

Later—short note from Ernest, promising me that he will never ever ever treat me like a child. So there.

12 April

We all (Uncle Jack, Miss Prism, Dr. Chasuble, Mudie and I) went for a long stroll in the park toady. The weather was charming until just before tea, but we made it indoors *just* in time! Then it cleared again in time for tea, which we took in the garden. Mudie has been quizzing me about all my activities—she wants to know all about what young girls do in the country. *I* want to know all about what young ladies do in the city!

10 April

Mudie quizzed me on her birthday 3-volume novel this morning. At the last, I was obliged to own I had not finished it as yet. Told her I was reading as slowly as possible since I simply cannot *bear* for it to end. Dr. Chasuble says a lie that hurts no one is not *really* a lie in God's eyes.
Short note from Ernest wishing me a very lovely Easter and a most joyous end to Lent. Horrid Lent! Why do we have to celebrate (?) Lent? It seems very unfair!

9 April

Mudie is a ear old friend of Miss Prism's from London, where she is also involved in some philanthropic work with Uncle Jack—that is how Miss Prism came to be my governess. She is a dear, sweet thing, though I am afraid not very *interesting*. Her visits here are always rather *convenient* for me though, as I am allowed the entire time off from lessons. Of course I am obliged to spend my time with her when she wishes, but she and Miss Prism go off on their own quite a bit—especially evenings. Perhaps Mudie knows cousin Ernest!! I must ask her at once.

No answer was forthcoming.

8 April

Ernest *is* a gambler! And a drinker "to the point of intoxication" Miss Prism said. Not to me, of course. I listened in on her after-sermon chat with Dr. Chasuble again this morning, and apparently she heard it *directly from Uncle Jack*! Dr. Chasuble is praying for him. Miss Prism seems to feel that the time is well past for prayers. I am intoxicated with Ernest!

Uncle Jack arrived with Mudie this afternoon. She will be staying the whole week.

5 April

Reading all day. I dislike Mudie's novels so *very* much! She writes entirely from memory, which means that her stories are entirely unbelievable, and more than usually boring. Besides, Mudie is very old indeed and has far too short a memory for such entirely lengthy books. And besides that, her novels always end *happily*. I don't like novels that end happily. If I am going to read for days on end, I must be allowed to cry. What else is reading for?

3 April

Mudie coming for a visit. That means I shall be obliged to read her birthday gift to me.

Can't write. Must read.

23 January

Uncle Jack still gone, but I managed to slip away from *dear* Miss Prism and get down to the barn. *No Peter again!* Luckily, I took along a really *marvellous* (sp?) novel! I read all day and felt those strange sensations again, even though Peter wasn't there. I *loved* the book. It ended so very tragically, with the dear heroine being thrown from her stallion and lingering for several days, unable to see her lover—just like me! Oh, if only Mudie's ghastly 3-volume dealies were like this! Mudie really could learn a thing or two about novel writing.