Yesterday was my first day back at work. I spent the morning in 1897 as the frightening Miss Jones, the schoolmistress, and the afternoon in 1891 as the equally terrifying Mrs. Harding, the housekeeper. Great fun, but quite tiring: niceness is much less wearing.

The school was from Hull, which has a very bad reputation educationally, but I can only speak as I find and the schools I have visited and those which have sent parties to us have behaved beautifully. Yesterday's school (St. Vincents) was no exception, and the children were attentive, polite, well-informed and friendly. Moreover, they left the lunch room spotless and tidy, even double bagging their litter. They have set a very high standard for the rest of this term's schools.