The Journal of a Disappointed Man

October 20. Better to-day. After much persuasion, I have got E---- to let the flat so that we can get away into the country outside the Zeppelin zone. October 24. Back in London again. Am better, bolstered up with arsenic and strychnine. Too nervously excited to do any work. October 25. The letting of our flat is now in the hands of an agent, and E----, poor dear, is quite resigned to abandoning all her precious wallpapers, etc. November 7. The flat is let and we are now living in rooms at ----, 20 miles out of London, to the Westward. November 8. It is a great relief to be down in the country. Zeppelins terrify me. Have just had a delightful experience in reading Conrad's new book, Victory--a welcome relief from all the tension of the past two months. To outward view, I have been merely a youth getting married, catching the 'flu and giving up a London flat. Inwardly, I have been whizzing around like a Catherine Wheel. Consider the items: Concussion of the spine. Resulting paralysis of left leg ten days before marriage. Zeppelin raid (heard a cannon go off for the first time). Severe cold in the head day before marriage (and therefore wild anxiety). Successful marriage with abatement of cold. Return to our home. Ten days later, down with influenza. A second Zeppelin raid. Bad heart attack. Then flat sub-let and London evacuated.