10 July

Uncle Jack said at dinner this evening that cousin Ernest would have to choose between this world, the next world, and Australia. I suppose he will choose Australia becasue there certainly will be many opportunities for adventure there. Uncle Jack is going up to London this weekend to buy dear Ernest's outfit. How handsome he will look in a safari outfit (Ernest, not Uncle Jack)! I *do* hope Uncle Jack will get him one of those explorer helmets—I *do* so love a man in a hat.

I am very excited to get letters from Australia. I wonder if they use stamps. It is terribly *wild* in Australia.

9 July

I have had the most unimaginable *shock* this evening! Uncle Jack has announced that cousin Ernest is going to be emigrating immediately. I can not imagine what desperate trouble he can have gotten himself into that would require such entirely *dire* measures, but I feel I certainly must prepare myself to live as a widow, for I fear I never shall see my darling Ernest more. He has not written to inform me of his position or of any plans to spirit me away with him, and so I am quite entirely *bereft*.

5 July

Uncle Jack has gone to London again as of yesterday. That is why I was obliged to suffer through German all day yesterday. Horrid German! Miss Prism is *quite* excited about our voyage to Germany this autumn. We will travel via steamer to Hamburg, and bu private train car from there. Miss Prism is most concerned that I should make a favorable impression on Germany. I am interested in making a favorable impression upon Ernest. I really must admit I am entirely fascinated by the idea of travelling on a steamer. Travelling by steamer is quite the thing.