her German master at school says so too. She can recite long poems and
the girls are always asking the master to let her recite.

August 30th. To-day Ada recited Geibel's poem, The Death of Tiberius, it
was splendid; she is a born actress and it's a horrid shame she can't go
on the stage; she is to teach French or sewing. But she says she's going
on the stage; I expect she will get her way somehow.

August 31st. Oswald's having a fine long fortnight; he's still there
and can stay till September 4th!! If it had been Dora or me. There would
have been a frightful hulabaloo. But Oswald may do _anything_. Ada says:
We girls must take for ourselves what the world won't give us of its own
free will.

September 5th. In the forest the other day I promised Ada to ask Mother
to let her come and stay with us so that she could be trained for the
stage. I asked Mother to-day, but she said it was quite out of the
question. Ada's parents simply could not afford it. If she has talent,
the thing comes of itself and she need only go to a school of Dramatic
Art so that she could more easily get a good Theatre says Ada. So I
don't see why it should be so frightfully expensive. I'm awfully sorry
for Ada.

September 10th. Oh we have all been so excited. I've got to pack up my
diary because we're going home to-morrow. I must write as quickly as I
can. There have been some gypsies here for three days, and yesterday one
of the women came into the garden through the back gate and looked at
our hands and told our fortunes, mine and Ada's and Dora's. Of course we
don't believe it, but she told Ada that she would have a great but short
career after many difficult struggles. That fits in perfectly. But she