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21st. Friday. Eliza & Jessie & Mrs. G. went to town this morning to stay till Monday. Mrs. G. came back tonight. My appetite is coming back some now - feel better than I've done for long time. Going home tomorrow. Mr. Beasley hare for dinner. 22nd. Saturday. Down this morning. Fearfully dusty in town & dirty going down - we had to go in the open truck & Ivy was there to meet me. I went to the Bank first (£6) then home - felt hot & dirty. Rested bit after dinner then went down town with Ivy & Mabel. Paid bills all except Red'. M's - got my hat done up & another. Went into Peats & had tea - It came on to a shower & we felt better the roads were nice. Felt very tired tonight Mr. M. asked me to play tomorrow morn 23rd. Sunday. Out this morning played. Nice day clear & not too hot. U. W. brought Mr. Kingston to me afterwards. He remember[sic] me in an instant. I knew him too - he hasn't changed either I knew him at once. he preached a nice sermon too, He was asking for Ma too - said he'd like to see her very much - he walked as far as the corner of the street with Mr. M. & me. Willie had gone on long before. Mr. K. wanted to see him - I told him to come round some day he would be pleased. Rested all afternoon - didn't go out at night. Lovely moonlight. M. & the girls were in church this morning. 24th. Monday. Up at 3 this morning! got a fright, didn't set the clock - & then when I woke & looked at my watch it was 10 to 4 - ! I hopped out & got dressed in no time & then found Janet coming out with her clock - it was only 20 to 4 - my watch was 1/2 hr fast - I'd forgotten. However Ivy & I got up to the station in good time. Reached here after 7. Felt very sleepy all day. Tuesday 25th. Got great fright. Tom came home & said Mrs. Tom Workman was dead[underlined] burnt!! yesterday ~ he didn't know any more. Mr. G. when he came didn't know either - it was rumoured in town. I wondered whether it was done intentionally or no - God forbid that it should be - When M. & Eliza came home tonight they said it was perfectly true - they had seen Ben at the station - the shock killed her not the burns so much. Yesterday morning she had just left their house & within 10 minutes had rushed out in flames - they don't know how it was done - she must have put kerosene on the fire & it blazed up & caught her wrapper sleeve that happened at 8 yesterday & she died at 8 the same night is to be buried tomorrow. Poor Tom - God help him - his has been a troublous married life & he such a good fellow too. Poor little Florrie too - her bright young life out for ever - she was far too excitable tho'. her nerves were already in a weak state & this was too much for her. I was only thinking about them today too. - they 26th. Wednesday. Mr. G. goes to the funeral today - lots there - the choir too went Miss Young made a great show of grief - she has[underlined] a lot to answer for strikes me - her sister would have been a different woman but for her. Old Mrs. O. cursed the place & all connected with it yesterday - wouldn't look at the child - cursed Tom on the railway platform when she(sic) went to meet her - made him break down - accused him of being her daughter's murderer. she stayed only an hour at Workman's when she did go out - poor things - they had enough to bear without that - 27th. Thursday. She wouldn't know what she was saying tho' - they ought not have taken any notice of her. Had word from Mr. G. this morning that we must move

out of our school - they are going to let Barclay's live there - their place is to(sic) unhealthy - he suggested that we should take Will's house but I was horrified at the thought - he would be too I thought but Mr. G. said No! would rather go to the Hall than be there - but they say there's a bad smell down there not healthy for us. However to-night when we were in the drawing room Mr. G. asked W. outright - to our surprise he said "Yes. I don't mind in the least - have the dining room. I wouldn't like you to go to the Hall just now." Good old sort. 28th. Friday. I thought the two girls May & Annie seemed rather disgusted at the news this morning & at dinner time I got a note from Mrs. J. She thought we had better go to the Hall at once - it was a hot walk for the children & we would spoil the house - I just wrote back a most touching note asking her if we might as a favour stay where we were till Xmas. Told her how delicate I was in the breathing organs & bad smells were bad for me. Mr G. at night said we would have to go to the Hall - they were afraid of the walk for their children. I said I had written to her. Felt a bit mad. If she doesn't take any notice of my request I wont forget it We took everything over to the house this afternoon but didn't take them in - couldn't find the key - 29th. Saturday. Says Mr. G. at breakfast. You can take the things inside today - so my note must have had effect - don't know how she'll like me after this tho' but I don't care. Dreadfully windy to day & smoky - big fire at Watana & the Isis. Turned my boxes out & mended things in general. Had some grand fun tonight playing tricks on A. & M. 30th. Sunday. Church this morning. Home at night. We got into disgrace tonight - the Kiddies wanted us to squint & the two on the verandah so we did through the door & followed them along the house [...]sside - mad[sic] more noise than we should & Mr. G. heard us as he was coming home - so we got into it - My parcel from Ivy arrived this afternoon from S.S. in it was 2 welcome items. in Ivy's letter - that a daughter had come to Mr. Moreau & from H. he apologised for keeping me without a letter - had been busy learning shorthand - a very cool epistle but hurried - he answered it as soon as he got mine. Wants to see me at Xmas. Glad to get it anyway - feel better already. I should miss his letters after all. 31st. Monday. Up early this morning. Am going to get up before 6 every morning this week. It's lovely & fresh in W's house - so cool too 1st. November Tuesday. Good enough end of this month will see the dear Mammy again. she wont be sorry the affair is over - six weeks at the most from this - holidays 2nd. Wednesday. M. & Eliza went to W's this afternoon - Kate & I will ride down & see them on Sat. I won't like going there now - folks will talk - wish I could say I was engaged - then it wouldn't matter. 3rd. Thursday. No headaches atall this week - feel so bright & well - wish we could always be here. Up at 1/4-5 this morning - want to finish 8 handkerchiefs & do traycloth before the holidays. Mr. Webster here from Gin Gin 4th. Friday. More bothering visitors. 5th. Saturday. Kate & I rode down to Sharon this morning at 12. Dr. Ryder. Clement Wragge. & Mr. Mirabel were coming up to lunch - we passed them

on the road as we were coming down. Felt glad we were out of the way. I rode Bob & he behaved most disgracefully all the way down. Shying at everything. Found them all home - one girl Harriet is away at the Prov School at Drummer's Creek. Heard all the particulars of F.s death. They could talk of nothing else scarcely. Tom was not gone as I expected - he looks very thin but not so dull as I expected him. We came home after tea escorted by Ben - we had quite a nice ride home - he's a real nice boy - wish he were not so young. Saw Jack W's photo. good one. Ben came with us as far as the home gate but wouldn't come in. We reached here at 9. Arthur W. was here. Eliza & I were going to have some fun but I felt too tired must postpone it till next Sat. 6th. Sunday. Church this morning. Home at night. Right this time - ride must have done it. 7th. Monday. Not nice today & coughing again - Saturday's effects I suppose 8th. Tuesday. Tonight Mr. & Mrs. Martin. Mr. & Mrs. Harvey were here & we didn't know they were coming. Mr. G. hadn't told - we had a bit of fun scrambling up a second tea. They were here to arrange for a tea meeting on the 9th. Dec. at Kolan - big affair. Jessie Aird came back from town - she had been in for more than a week. she goes home on Friday - to Brisbane first with Mrs. Stirling to Miss Annie's wedding. Got an invitation from Mrs. Harvey to come in & see her some time also Mrs. Martin 9th. Wednesday. Holiday but took none. Nightingale & Curtis here for lunch - 10th. Thursday. M. went to town & brought back Mrs. Wiles - a little body 11th. Friday. 12th. Saturday. Lovely quiet day to our two selves - Mrs. W. away with Mr. & Mrs. G. to Watana - opening of new church there - children away in town Polly too - had some fun - Evelyn & I went over to the - Library & afterward to watch the cricket match - whilst there we were informed that Dave was coming up & was going to bring that horrid Curtis again - W here - another creature up tonight. Will was furious - he told us as a parting shot that his girl was coming by train - he vowed he'd slap them - however they didn't come - felt so thankful - can't bear those two fellows Eliza & I had some great fun - we [...] put on our black cloaks & the girls sun hats & tracked them everywhere - that is M. & A. - the other 2 we left alone - gave them a great scare outside the tennis court - she & I have got quite chummy. we didn't retire till nearly 12. Mr. Tunley here too. 13th. Sunday. Very hot day - burning wind. I stayed home this morning went out at night. E. & I sat in the back & escorted Willie G. & Mayzie home - had great fun too mistaking two folks for M. & A. I said "Good. evening" in a most sepulchral voice & immediately found out my mistake. I shall miss E. when she goes - we have become quite close friends - she gave me a warm invitation to come & see her in B. M. is terribly "spooney". Didn't think she could ever be so. 14th. Monday. E. went this morning with Mr. T. Mrs. Wiles seems very nice - reminds me something of Ma - only a trifle smaller if anything. very well-informed upon anything. Miss V. is as liveley(sic) & as cheeky as ever Another hot day. 105degrees in the shade yesterday - Poor little Mother will be getting killed - I wish she were home. 15th. Tuesday. Up these mornings & dressed by 1/4-6 - want to get these items out of the way. only 4 more weeks to do them. Threatened storm but wasn't much. 16th. Wednesday. 17th. Thursday. We strolled up to the house tonight we 4 & held a confab. 18th. Friday. A Mr. McCleey here this evening - fine looking man - nice too

they were throwing out hints to me but I enlightened M. a little as we were playing duets - I want her & Miss S. to see that I - for one thing - don't in any way hunker after D. & for another thing that I could marry if I wished Tom - young villain - kept me without 2 letters this evening - Ma's when he said No there were none I felt my heart down to zero - & Jim S's Dear little Mammy - I do wish she was home - it has been terribly hot up there as I thought & she has had a touch of rheumatics I'm sure Claude has been sick too but is better now - she doesn't think she'll be home till about the 7th. Dec. Jim[underlined] is getting too sentimental says if he gets holidays at Xmas thinks he come down & see me. He's a real nice chap tho' is Jim - why are all the nice boys so young for me - why am I so old. 18th. Saturday. I talked to Miss S. on wise subjects this morning - it was on the tip of my tongue to ask her a certain question but I said I'd put it off till next visit - M. must have told her all about what I told her last night as she was giving me some advice re "love on one side". They all drove to town after dinner. M. Miss S. Mrs. W. Mr. Mac. & W.. M. & Mrs. W. coming home Monday. Miss S. not. I took a young Mrs. Fleming (sister in law to Flemings B-g but whom they don't recognise much) up to Mrs. W's. quite a young thing - a hurried match it must have been from accounts - they knew Edgar Gibson at home - so nice looking too - they live in old Beauty's house down below. 19th. Sunday. A lovely quiet day. Only Mr. & Mrs. G. the kiddies & myself here. Went to church twice. First time we been quite alone for months. 20th. Monday. M. & Mrs. W. came back by the buggy with Mr. G. tonight & Mrs. Boreham. 21st. Tuesday. Wrote[underlined] to Ma. 22nd. Wednesday. Mr. Morris gave lecture tonight in the Hall but I went not. Miss Beatson & I minded little Frank - she told me my fortune - my last I'll bother with - a good one too - I was to get my wish - for the first time - just wonder if it's true. this time - 23rd. Thursday. Our first Glee practice tonight - all there - we are to have 4 glees - "Hail smiling Morn" - "March[...] men of Harleck" - "See our oars" & Incline thine ear" 24th. Friday. Mrs. B. & Mrs. W. went home this morning - once more we are quiet - Mrs. W. is a terror for flying round - she makes us all feel lazy - thought Ma was bad enough but she's worse. Think I'll go down home tomorrow - dose of visitors coming again on Sunday - D. too & I don't want to see him - 25th. Saturday. Went down by the buggy this morning after breakfast - didn't go home first - had some dinner in Peat's - then did all I wanted to do before going up - threatened rain too - went to Miss McNemay's' with a holland dress I had - she couldn't do it - went then or was going to Carrie but Ivy said she[underlined] couldn't do it - hunted up a Miss Gordon then - don't know how she'll manage - Miss McN. recommd. her felt dead tired after coming back. - walked more than for weeks - rained too. Saw Jack W. in Peat's but didn't want him to see me - he's leaving the Dredge at the end of the month & coming to Bingera for a while after. 26th. Sunday. Went not out all day - went up to talk with Grace this morning - think it will do Ivy good if she comes with us to Brisbane - that is if her mother can help us - she thinks she can - It came on to heavy rain there & rained for about 2 hours - heavily - I rested all afternoon - got the old thing today - suppose got damp yesterday. Janet got letter from Ma yesterday - she's been sick again with a chill

27th. Monday. Rained off & on all night - was raining at 1/2-3 too - from that till 4 - thought I wouldn't venture - felt bad too - waited till afternoon train - can give Saturday morning now the girls don't go to town - got up just after heavy rain here - Mrs. G. started for Pialba this morning - D. was up yesterday - glad I was away. M. & I settled ourselves down for a quiet evening - thought it was too bad under foot for us to go to Glee practice but behold up came Mr. Martin & Miss Scott & made us come down in the buggy - not many there - I was dead tired too - we got a drive home too. 28th. Tuesday. Cold in head to day - felt very nasty. 29th. Wednesday. Bit better today. Glad when this next 3 weeks are over. 30th. Thursday. M. went to town today & came back with Jack tonight 2nd. December Friday. Only a fortnight more now. Letter from Ma - she leaves M.M. tomorrow - Out to practice - J. escorted me[underlined] home. 3rd. Saturday. Lovely quiet day to ourselves. Children in town with Rolly. M. & I went down to the Siding this evening to meet the boys. They didn't appear at first but when we were seated in the truck in they came - I fell out with J. he scooted off home & left me to the tender mercies of the other two which I didn't relish - I pretended I was highly offended he [?seemed] too but I had it out with him before going to bed - he made me sit up with him till after 11 - when M. scooted round saying that Mr. G. had come & he had gone to Watana & wasn't expected back till 12 - Mrs. Barclay came to practice her song this afternoon 4th. Sunday. Church this morning. J. & I had a good afternoon's confab on the verandah first & then went for a walk to the river - he can talk - I was quite surprised - on all subjects - He went to Stirlings for tea & I went not to church - 5th. Monday. Wrote to Ma - J. says he hears I'm going to be spliced soon I hastened to enlighten him - 6th. Tuesday. Busy day - this weather is tiring for teaching - Wrote to Mrs. Brassington saying I would like to come up to see her for a day or two - in the holidays. 7th. Wednesday. J. escorted us to Martin's this afternoon - May, Annie & I - He & I had the hours to ourselves today - Mr. M. & Katie in town - I had a spare 1/2 hr thereby after dinner - he seems to like me anyhow - he's a strange fellow tho' inclined to be obstinate - very - I made him come out with us this evening - he has just learned to ride - It(sic) nearly fell off with laughing at him coming back - the buggy arrived at 7 - Just after we did - it [...] wasn't coming till 12 - can't trust us I suppose - Mr. G. doesn't like J. & he knows it .. Out to practice tonight - We go out to M & S to cut up tomorrow evening. 8th. Thursday. Hot day & fearfully windy. We all went out in the truck - about a doz or so - to M's - I quite enjoyed the bit of fun for the others too - they'll all think he's gone on me now - I tried him tonight but there's something of restraint he uses - thinks I'm after him perhaps - wish I could rid him of that idea threatened rain. Came home dead tired 9th. Friday. Busy to get things done early. Got finished at 1/2-3 or so - drove out with Mrs. Boreham who came up to sing - We practised in the church first & then went over to help