17th March, 1888
Dear Diary,
I was up alone in the dormitory earlier today - a rare occurrence, but it happens - and I tripped over and nearly bashed my face in on one of the wardrobes. I didn't, for once! But anyway, I was searching for some of my drawers... that have mysteriously gone missing? (Whyever would my drawers go missing? They're not the sort of thing I could misplace - perhaps it was the fault of a house elf doing laundry? In any case...) I thought they might have gotten mixed up with some of the other girls' things. I couldn't find them, but I did find that dress of Darling's that I have always utterly adored. Of course Darling and her family can afford all sorts - though with girls like Sweetie Whitledge in the family, they don't all deserve them! What difference do nice dresses make to her, except see her come across as more of a brat? - but the Whitledges are so frequently in mourning she barely makes enough use of this lovely piece, and I have always secretly thought it would suit me.
It does, you know. Suit me. Since I was alone, I tried it on for a moment in front of the mirror - and oh, it is so much nicer than anything I own! My parents make such a fuss whenever I ask for new things, but I can't inherit Delilah's old things forever! (And Zipporah has no fashion sense whatsoever. I should die before I wore one of her hats. I expect that's why no one thinks I should be a fashionable creature. But I shall show them, when I am a debutante one day!)
And you know, both Darling and Clementine are so blonde. You might think half the boys at school deem any blonde girl the most incomparable beauty, the way they fall over themselves. And I know I'm scarcely the most remarkable girl in the school, but hello, I'm developing bosoms too!
But I think all those pastel colours only serve to wash them out, though I'd never say such a thing. Frida, meanwhile, well - her family can afford the best as well, but she has only just begun to care at all, so she has reams of catching up to do with fashion.
I am quite certain I put Darling's dress away just as it had been before. Oh, Merlin, I hope so.
Else I'll just blame the house elves.
Love, Jemima
