Free Victoria by Anna Kirwan

King Charles spaniel. His coat is v curly and is like SILK. He has a little pug face and dainty ears. Mamma named him Dash, because he does. He already knows his name, and looks up when he is called, and sometimes will come to me when I summon him.
    De Spaeth is going to take him back with her to the palace when she goes, so we need not have him where it is so hot.
    Mamma had remarked how she wished she could see the Tyrolean Alps again some year. I cannot pay for such a trip abroad with my pocket money, as I would like to be able to do as my birthday present to her. Before we left home, though, I already painted her a picture of Tyrolean girls, and I have had it with me in my bandbox. I used as my model the peg doll Lehzen and I dressed for my geography lesson last February, and used Fanny as the model for their dog, only made her sandy-coloured (but, alas, too small).
    I also bought her perfume, some eau Romaine and some eau de miel d’Angleterre . They both smell v exquisite. I am not sure which she may like better. I hope she will say, by and by. When I gave my gifts to her, Mamma said, “Thank you, ma délice .” She kissed my hair and my two cheeks, and said the faces and hat and the speckled shawl and the eardrops on the standing Tyrol girl are “ très remarquables, très délicats ” – very remarkable and delicate.

25 September
Kensington Palace
    We are home again, back in plain, old Kensington Palace.
    Such a long while since I’ve written in my journal!
    First, I became bilious the afternoon after Mamma’s birthday, and Mamma fussed around so I had no privacy. If Stocky had not been around to reassure her that no one had given me a poisoned biscuit, I’m sure I should have had to take all sorts of very nasty physicks and such.
    Then O’Hum took his poor horse, Snuff, out on a wet ride, and brought him back lame. That meant he could not ride him on the way back home, and rode in the chariot with us instead. It made the trip v tedious. He, himself, is the hero of every story he recounts. I was actually glad finally to see the black and gold of the palace gates.
    O’Hum is so put out about Snuff, nothing pleases him, and he has decided I am not advanced enough in my lessons, so I am to be allowed less time for play and leisure now. He says I must Put My Back In It. I was v naughty. I pretended innocence and said, “Is that what’s wrong with Snuff, he didn’t put his back in it?” He was v irritated and gave me a lecture on horsemanship. I did not point out I am not the one who lamed my horse.
    I must tell about Fanny and Dash, but no—

27 September
    I meant to say, no time now. But there really was NO time. I miss my writing, but I fear there’s no help for it. I shan’t be permitted more leisure to do as I like.
    About my darling little dogs: when de Spaeth arrived back here, the painters and plasterers had done all, but Cook and the staff were in a pother because poor little Dash had been staying down in the kitchen while the work was carried out, and he ate some RAT POISON! He almost DIED! He lay about and stared and panted and drooled horridly, and everyone thought he was done for.
    Of course, they knew Mamma and I would be ever so sad.
    When I returned, all my care was for our poor little friend. Mamma would not let me have him upstairs at first, but gave in rather than have me always down in the kitchen. They all say now that he has only recovered because I nursed him myself, and they are sure he would have died if I had not come home when I did. Now he has quite recovered, except his back legs sometimes tremble for no reason. I cannot see that he ought to be turned into a hunting dog, as O’Hum seems to have intended. I am happy to say Mamma agrees with me.
    At first Fanny was jealous of Dash for all the attention he received, but now she treats him as if he is her puppy and she is his mother. She likes to lick his ears. It