From the journals of Dorothy Wordsworth

July 25th: Failed to get out of bed this morning. Finally emerged at 4.30 p. m. o'clock. Wm. busy transcribing a conversation with a cowherd that had taken place the previous afternoon.

July 26th: Incident with a hard-boiled egg, Wm. was unaccountably angry. Baked a pie. Ate said pie. Sate quitely for a while. Wm. drank heavily and raved. Turned in a little after ten.

July 27th: Found a pustule on the underside of my foot. I forget what became of it. Wm. wrote another ghastly exemplum for young siblings.

July 28th: Walked in the afternoon near a stone wall. Found a jackdaw, lately mauled by a badger. Wm. much amused.

July 29th: A drowned cow washed up by the onion patch. Ignored a tramp, cuffed a stray infant. Must go into town and throw up in the apothecary's window-box.