Tuesday August 19 to Wednesday August 20, 1862
The day drags on until it’s finally a proper hour for me to go to bed. Nora helps me get ready, then leaves the room. I wait a few minutes and get out of bed and turn on my oil lamp. I hurriedly grab two riding dresses from my wardrobe and put one on. Then I put a hair brush and my plainest dress, light blue, into a reticule along with the other riding dress and put it beside the bag that holds my money under the bed. I glance at my other belongings wistfully. I’ll have to leave most of my things behind.
I look over my shoes. None of them are appropriate for what I’m about to do. Finally I decide to wear my riding boots. I want to get a pair of shoes for Anna, but she’s so much taller than I that her feet are surely too big for what I have.
