DIARY LOG, THE SUMMER OF 1813
When one is surrounded by frivolous nothings and nonsense, it is necessary to raise up a child with sense. Lizzy has been my life's sanity anchor for twenty years now. She is the only thing keeping me from retreating into the social destitution of an insensate bookworm.
Unfortunately, the side effect of raising children with sense is that they also develop a mind of their own. It was not easy to persuade Lizzy to be at ease with my decision to send Lydia to Brighton. I wonder where this new consciousness of decorum was born? I taught her to laugh at such things. Oh, well. It is of small consequence. I daresay she shall get over it and shall soon be back to laughing at the family with me.
