The Journal of a Disappointed Man

September 9. Very nervy to-day. Hobbled down the road to see the damage done by the bombs. September 10. A swingeing cold in the head thro' running about on the night of the raid. Too feeble to walk far, so Mrs. ---- went into the town for me and purchased my wedding-ring, which cost £2 5s. 0d. [1] 1917. I am now editing my own Journal--bowdlerising my own book! [2] A method of collecting insects in winter by shaking moss over white paper. [3] 1917. Cf. Sainte-Beuve's Essay on Maurice de Guérin: "Il aimait à se répandre et presque à se ramifier dans la Nature. Il a exprimé en mainte occasion cette sensation diffuse, errante; il y avait des jours ou, dans son amour ou calme, il enviait la vie forte et muette qui règne sons l'écorce des chênes; il rêvait à je ne sais quelle métamorphose en arbre...." [4] Cf. 1916, November 6. [5] Cf. Burns's poem "On a Louse."