[1] We Girls: A Home Story by A.D.T. Whitney (an American poet and prolific writer, who published more than 20 books for girls. Her books expressed a traditional view of women’s roles and were popular throughout her life.)
[2] Pelham or Adventures of a Gentleman by Edward Bulwer-Lytton – a story of impoverished aristocracy and dandyism in early 19th century London.
[3] The Cloister and the Hearth (1861) is a historical novel by the English author Charles Reade. (Arthur Conan Doyle named this as his favourite novel).
[4] Calisthenics is a form of exercise consisting of a variety of movements which exercise large muscle groups, such as running, standing, grasping, pushing, etc. These exercises are often performed rhythmically and with minimal equipment, as bodyweight exercises.
[5] Indian ink is a form of carbon ink that has been mixed with gum and resin.
[6] Mignonette flowers are extremely fragrant. It is grown for the sweet ambrosial scent of its flowers. It is used in flower arrangements, perfumes and potpourri. A Victorian favourite, it was commonly grown in pots and in window-boxes to scent the city air.
The Diaries of my Great-Great-Aunt Kate 