14 July

Uncle Jack still gone. I guess I know what that means. I must find a way out of this today. Must discover some fun. I have only just escaped from dear Miss Prism by telling Dr. Chasuble a little white lie. I informed him that Miss Prism had a slight headache and suggested a "stroll." He said he would "Hang upon her lips!" Then he called her *Egeria*! Said it was a reference to the *pagans*! I think he has been making love to her!

!!!!!! Ernest is here!!!!!!! At last! And he is exactly as I imagined him. He says I am the "visible personification of absolute perfection" and then he proposed! 3:00pm More later. No, now I am to be a married woman, I will put aside childish diaries once and for all.

(Ed's note: there follow no more entries, and documentary evidence has not been found to provide any further information on a Cecily Cardew, aged 18, from Hertfordshire.)

14 February

Worn out by Ernest's entire ignorance of my existence, I resolved to end the matter one way or the other. After a long struggle with myself, I accepted his proposal of marriage. We will opt for a long engagement, I think, since we have not, as yet, actually met one another.

8 January

At last the rains have gone. But I was prevented from having a real meeting with my dear Peter due to a cough on the part of Miss Prism. That is to say, Peter and I had met, at last, by the garden gate, and I am sure he was just going to kiss me, when up walked Miss Prism from heaven only knows where! It certainly can't be proper for a governess to go about spying on a poor girl and her love—one will never obtain a decent proposal. I shall be obliged to speak to her about this matter at once.