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who I thought would meet me this afternoon & all about him - We left after dinner for home. Had the nuns for company home - guess they know who we 2 were - At Colton H. popped out of the train & horrors - il me baisa - felt vexed - he looked so shabby too & thin - I felt ashamed of him - however made the best of him - he came in with me - Couldn't stop at the station - saw no-one there ~ suppose my letter hadn't gone - Got a cab & came on home - Don't know how D. will take H's intrusion - Well I told him beforehand - but he's terribly touchy - anyway we acted as a very sensible pair I'm sure - poor old H - he evidently thinks the same of me as ever - had his cousin with him. They didn't expect me home - my letter hadn't arrived - 23rd Thursday. Feel bit off today. Went down town & got things for children at Youngs' & Blaikie's. 24th. Friday. Feel all[underlined] off today. Xmas Eve. Ma & I went down to Skyring's to see Eunine. We stayed for tea, saw them all & 'Arry - he looks well not a bad sort. If I had only half a show I'd go in for him. We had music after tea & then H. drove us home in the buggy. Eunine cane with us & went into Reuss's. I thought the horse would have backed us into the gutter. Saw W. G. & the Stirling girls & Maggie &c. - didn't see a sight of Dave, suppose they hadn't come into town then ~ thought it best not to poke round town so we drove straight home at 1/2-7. feel better than roaming & perhaps had I seen anyone couldn't have spoken - best not to see him[underlined] too 25th. Xmas Day. Saturday. Strange Xmas. No home. Had our dinner & tea at Grace's - felt intensely miserable all day. Must shake this off it won't do. Suppose I'll come to my senses directly - seemed to have lost them - 'Maladie de l'amour' sure enough - Garçon, garçon vous savez que peu que vous m'avez fait taut de mal. Que que puis folle; but I always enjoy any one's company intensely & miss it just as much. One can't play with the fire & not be burnt. We had not such a bad day - played cricket all afternoon : they all think me terribly sunburnt & think I look 'triste.' 26th. Sunday. Church twice - played both times - Herbert's birthday (33rd.) Dieu le blesse ~ mon cher ami ~ que d'amis j'aurai pour pries Je tente d'oublier tout mais qu'il est dure et difficile. 27th. Monday. Boxing Day. Threatened rain. What a nice time I might have had today at Bingera but how all the folks would stare to see me there - they'd wonder what on earth brought me[underlined]. Home all day. Am trying d'oblier. Have no right to do otherwise. Joe went off tonight by Gladstone train for Mt. Morgan. Poor old chap. Hope he'll be successful. God go with him. Mrs. Mellor offered us her house at the coast for a week. from tomorrow till Wednesday next. Good! that will be much better than hotel. 28th. Tuesday. Down town this morning fixing things up. Got ready after dinner & started for Burnett Heads. after 3. Finished Edie's bonnet almost before I went. Pretty it is! sent it & the 3 pairs bootees Ivy came with us. Mrs. Marshall & family were there when we got down & went back by our buggy. Got settled [...] everything seems handy & comfortable. Lovely & quiet. Glad to be at the sea again. This day week[3 underlined] to bathe. What a bother ~ came here on purpose too ~ Ma & Ivy went in twice. Amused ourselves all day. 30th. Thursday. Horrid night ~ just like one of Watana nights only worse Sick as I could be this morning. Wonder is this to be the usual now

not going to sleep in that room any more - too close and stuffy. fearfully hot day - close & muggy ~ Raining some. Ivy thinks she'll go home later. 31st. Friday. Last day of old year. Feel better today ~ better spirits too. Ma & Ivy had 2 bathes again. Ma looks a sight in Ivy's dress for bathing costume. Wrote to Jim. Poor old '97. It hasn't been such a bad year to us. What a long time it seemed to look forward to at the beginning. Goodness & mercy has followed us. Fearfully hot ~ 1897 ~ Vale! Vale! ~ 1897 ~[all underlined] 1st. January 1898. Saturday. New Year's Day. We heard the folks at the Hotel last night keeping up jollities with a bullock's bell & some kerosene tins. Noone troubled us ~ we sang some hymns about 12 or so. Ivy went home this morning with a woman. Nice day feel better - mentally & physically ~ tightness gone. 2nd. Sunday. Lovely day. We sat out nearly all day under a tree enjoying the air. Lots of people down picnicing. Hot day again - terribly hot indoors. What a number of nice Sundays I seem to have had ~ most of my happiest ~ my happiest I believe - have been Sundays. This day fortnight was one. 3rd. Monday. Started raining last night & kept up nearly all day. Meant to start bathing today too. However we enjoyed ourselves working & reading. These are like old times ~ we two together alone. Just like home. 4th. Tuesday. Raining like all things last night & today. Letter from Grace wanting us to go home ~ flood predicted - raining hard in town ~ We are all right here ~ house doesn't leak - I'm well - Couldn't get out all day tis not nice to be 2 days indoors. 5th. Wednesday. Cleared today ~ only chance showers ~ but lots - Ma & I bathed this afternoon - rough - Wrote to Ivy - No sign of anyone coming for us yet. Horribly windy all night. We had to go back to our room. Finished my shams yesterday ~ at last - 6th. Thursday. Raining again - all day - Rough last night - rain came into our bedroom - started bootees & amused myself all day - Got some water up for bath today. Must have that if I can't bathe. 7th. Friday. Horrid night for wind & rain. Felt scared but slept just the same. Raining hard all day & blowing - sea very rough. Happy day in spite of all. This is[underlined] quiet & rest. 8th. Saturday. Dreadfully rough last night ~ thought our abode would go - it shook so - know something now of stormy seas & wind Will not call anything wind after this. Got out little bit this morning ~ for a blow - Started raining again ~ big rough sea today. No sign of anyone coming for us yet. Thought Mrs. M might. 9th. Sunday. Funny day. Raining all day & not raining ~ just like mist but kept us indoors. I went out however with cloak on & got some fresh air. Felt restless all day - wished we could have got out. No stormy wind today - quiet sea too - Anniversary of poor Papa's death today. 10th Monday. Asked Matthewson to take us home tomorrow. He will if it's fine. Got everything fixed straight this morning early & went in for a bathe ~ big swell on ~ feel scared of the current -

sea very smooth though Big tides these 2 or 3 days. My 2nd. bathe only - good thing I got the water indoors. Feel so well - happy too - Matthew came for us at 9. Nearly lost our keys. Got into town dry[underlined] at 11 : Went the rest of the way in cab. They thought we'd never get home. Sent keys to Mrs. M. by Ivy ~ she grumbled nicely ~ misunderstood Ivy about things so I went to see her after drinks & explained & made things straight ~ she charged 10/- It has cost us just 25/- not much for a fortnight - went down town & saw Blaikie - must start violin tomorrow. Feel all different now - cobwebs all gone & senses restored. 11th. Tuesday . Dreadful day for rain & wind. Blessing we are home. Would have been swamped truly down there. Mrs. M will know now all about her house. Passed day thinking &c. 12th. Wednesday. Cleared a bit - still threatens. Went to Blaikie for my first violin lesson. Seems harder than I thought. Flood rising 13th. Thursday. Lots of rain up country. We'd have been swamped at Mellor's - at Mon Repos 19 in fell. suppose the same at Heads. "Ranelagh wrecked on Tuesday at mouth of river ~ we saw her anchored on Monday coming out in the storm on Tuesday she anchored & the strong tides & flood water dragged her on the rocks. Lesson this morning. 14th. Friday. Down for lesson this morning : practised bowing a lot. It means more practice than I ever thought. Boy drowned near Smith's today. 15th. Saturday. Practised lots today. Took a stroll down to the flood this afternoon ~ not very much ~ Took my blouse to Miss M's to make ~ 16th. Sunday. Church this morning. We went by Barolin St. & it was horrible ~ Mr. Marsh preached ~ I played - Mrs. Wilde was there. Wanted me to come to dinner ~ promised to come one day next week - Mrs. Ellison wants us to come Thursday. Didn't go out tonight ~ 17th. Monday. Lesson this morning ~ Awfully hot ~ came on to rain after dinner & rained like fun all afternoon. 18th. Tuesday. Sick all day - thought I must be getting dengue fever pains all over & big headache - tried to practise best I could sitting up in bed - had to go to bed early last of all. 19th. Wednesday. All right nearly today ~ put my feet into hot mustard & water - that took all the pains out - Very glad too - must have got a chill on Monday. Lesson - The more I practised the worse I seem to get but suppose that will remedy with time. Miss Skyring came early to tell us not to come down - the swell at their place was horrible & their place was all upset ~ she might have taken us for a drive anyway - I could have gone to Wilde's too. We went out however & visited Mrs. Young - found her out - or in & didn't want to see us ~ then to Miss Trotter who was glad to see us & regaled us with ginger beer & biscuits ~ then to Mrs. Reddan & found her out - gone to Maryboro ~ so we seuled down town & went to Macleod's & bought me a birthday broach - opal ~ a very pretty one. Think I've done enough outing for one day. 20th. Thursday. Very hot. We went up to Ellison's for the evening about 1/2-4. Had nice evening. Mr. & Mrs. Marsh came after tea. Mr. M. was told that Mrs. G. had dengue fever ~ brought it home with her. Nice for me to have [...] into. 21st. Friday. Down for my lesson. ~ Went then in the bus up to Wilde's for dinner & spent the afternoon. Mr. W. wasn't home for dinner but came just as I was going away & wanted me to stay for tea & he

would see me home after. Promised I'd come home before dark & then thought I'd better not - keep out of the way of temptation. I'd liked to have stayed. Mrs. W. was the same as ever. She is[underlined] a good sort. Didn't seem to be at all shocked about me & ~ Had some music with the youngsters after tea. Ivy gave me a nice bottle of scent for my birthday 22nd. Saturday. Up to Benbow's early this morning & got all information I wanted then to Miss McNemay's. Home & packed up : Feel very different from the day I packed up to come down. Poor little mother I don't like leaving her at all ~ she clings to me so ~ Got a cab & drove up to the Station. Got up here before dark. Boys away in town - didn't come home till nearly 9 ~ il semblait embarrasse de me recoutrer. Il restait dans la chambre à dîner longtempes aprés neuf heures mais I mustn't[underlined]. M. seemed glad to see me ~ Mrs. G. is in bed but they think it is a chill she has not fever ~ Minnie S. sent me such a comical Xmas card ~ I riding ~ in front ~ with 3 gentlemen following. Dr. W. Dave & Mr. Methven ~ it's splendid ~ Miss Norman sent me one too. It feels more like home now to be here. Poor little Mammy - she'll miss me ~ God bless her & comfort her 23rd. Sunday. Church this morning. I wore my pink voile - going to now & my opal broach - they all admire it - M. has just the fellow to it but a bigger opal. After dinner D. came & asked me to sit round the side verandah so I went ~ old George Wilson joined us after a bit (wished him far enough). We 3 went for a walk down to the river. D. didn't go but to the yard at all. Eva Gibson & Allie Curtis were here for tea - It came on a heavy shower so we couldn't go to church - it turned out cold so I stayed indoors. Pauvre garçon. Je le pit cait. Je sais qu'il m'attendait dehors mais je n'aimis pas sortir pendant que Mr ~ ebait ici - Je vis un belle expression ~ le même que j'y ai vu il y'ea quelquefois. Can't help it. Je me conchais si malheureuse. 24th. Monday. Un jour malheureuse. Je ne puis l'empecher - Il faut que je cide. Il semble si malheureuse aussi je suis certain. J'ai prié - mais c'est en vain. Ce soir je allais sur le veran pour m'asseois avec leu After tea we were in the dining room & il me donne des sefues d'aller du dehors aprés et j'allais[underlined]. Alors nous descendions la colline & nous nous assânces comme autrefois il y a une heure et demie. Mrs. Boreham came up tonight. Don't know whether quelque'un connaissions mais les chiens faisait bant de bruit quand nous entrames. C'est en vain : Je laisserais aller tout mes ~ We are going for a ride Wednesday. 25th. Tuesday. Better infinitely today. Such a long day as yesterday was - the first day after holidays always is. To add to my duties young Leslie is sent to school ~ out of the road I presume tho' Jessie says it's to fill up May's place ~ she's not coming back for a month nearly. He's a little pickle. I'm not going to worry over him ~ got quite enough with Harold We had music after tea. (Il me demand a de venir se delors Lundi) (Mercredi nous descendions la colline ~ il me donna des ~) Last day of my 26th. year. Telegram from dear old boy Alf. 26th Wednesday. My 27th. birthday. How time is going. I'll soon be an old maid. Hope I'll grow up a nice one anyway. Will have too many & various "affaires du coeur" ever to marry. We two with Katie Annie & Tom went for a ride. D thought he wouldn't get away till 6 but the silly boy nearly killed himself trying to get down at 5. We left about 1/2-5. I rode Melbourne ~ wouldn't ride that horse if D. wasn't

with me - not for anything. We[underlined] went beyond Goondoon - the 3 children turned back sooner ~ T. gave me a most significant look as they rode away. We got home at 8 about. Mrs. W. & the boy came up with the buggy just after we had got home. I went to bed. Felt too tired for anything. A very happy day. I shall remember this birthday. Bless me even me also oh my Father. Letter from dear little mother enclosing tel. from Artie ~ dear old boy. 27th. Thursday. Don't feel bit tired today only cross. Young Jess said Mrs. James was very displeased that I hadn't taught Leslie anything. Prob. the young uns - it takes me all my time to keep him quiet without teaching him anything. Besides I'm not going to start it - she didn't ask me & if I'm to have extra work I'll have extra pay too or help. Practised my viol. after tea. Don't know how I'm to fit time to give it the practice it needs. Had un bon temps ensemble ce soir. Had music ~ then adjourned. nous andehors le enclosure - un de nos vieux temps. Entrâmes tout tranquilles 28th. Friday. Last day of school thanks be - this has been a trying week. Mrs. W. went back - She saw tout le sois dernière et me dit rieu Nous nous assâmes sur la chaise mais je sentait tout inquiète parce que les garçons etaient dans la chambre pred de nous. 29th. Saturday. Lessons (boys). Practised (piano) before dinner & violin after. M. & I went to see a cricket match played between Invicta & some of the Bingeras (Dave). Bob played with them & won the match - It was great fun - I enjoyed it. After tea we all went over to Mrs. James'. Had nice evening. A young Sydney girl who is staying there played "The Brook" very nicely ~ she sang too but spoilt her songs by the accompts. We had games &c. Got home after 10. Nous avions un heureux temps à nous - memes sur la v ~ jusqu'ci midi et demie!! Peut être je fais tort, mais comment sais - je comme il me regarde - peut être comme je le regarde ~ comme frère et ami. mais quelque chose me dit qu'il m'amie - Respère je ne lui ferais du mal ~ Dieu sait que je veux faire du bien. Could never trust anyone plus jeune que moi again. I'll get over it no doubt. but there's something dans lui that influences me ~ must be his strong will. Quelque chose de mon souvener. 30th. Sunday. Church twice - not very nice day - felt bit hurt over something. Went for walk down by river with D. & the children 31st. Monday. Had evening outside tonight yarning. M. & we 2. & then in his room - Social to Mr. G. tomorrow night in town - they are all going down ~ haven't asked me so ~ we ~ are going out for a ride on our own account - & have un bon temps. 1st. February Tuesday. Raining. Mr. G. & M. went down to train - They want D. to drive the other girls down but he isn't on - Sam can do it. However it rained too hard to go. Mr. & M. came home by train tonight - Nous deux avient un temps seul dans la chambre - pas it all safe - je sentais mauvais à mon aise mais nous avais un bon temps - Il me baisait[2 underlined] - enfin - Je savais that I would & could influence at last - strange - must be magnetic nous nous couchions tard - quel heureurx temps - Il dit qu'il souhaitais je j'avais trois ou quatre ans de plus flime. Il m'aime vraiment 2nd. Wednesday. Raining. Had good practice tonight on my viol.[underlined] Went to bed early - 3rd. Thursday. Raining hard - Didn't come home for dinner.