In the Family Way - 2 July 1858

Even though I keep discovering this, it's still a shock every time.  I don't know about you, but I'd always got the impression  that Victorian life was staid, all brides were virgins and young men had to go for a brisk run around the block if they got the faintest in the way of a carnal urge.

But no, not a bit of it. Frankly, until they click and a baby's on the way, they all seem to be at it.

Take this morning's visit to old Liz Endordfield, on the advice of Mrs Maybold.  I'll be honest, when I saw her sat there my main ambition was that she'd still be breathing when I left.  There's not much of her and what there is seems to be plagued by rheumatics.  But she's a wicked sense of humour, and appears to have a reliable set of informers.

So I now hear that the dashing Sergeant Troy, of hanging-around-haymaking and chasing after Bathsheba Everdene fame, has got a young lady in trouble and has her stashed somewhere Melchester way.  Although young Fanny Robin is a local girl, young Troy's making sure she's well out of it so as not to queer his pitch with Bathsheba.

I feel something must be done.  And I know just who's going to do it.