Monday, June 3:
Many domestic cares and troubles with the children; things to be smoothed and sorted out.
Wilhelmj writes very nicely, and his engagement as concertmaster for the Nibelungen is settled. In the afternoon went to the Schweizerei. Talked with Malwida about R.’s life; she is utterly dismayed at all she finds in the biography, the calumnies quite horrify her.
R. meets us in the Schweizerei. The sky is overcast, but we put our trust in a ray of sunshine which suddenly breaks through and follow R. on a roundabout route. When we are far away from anywhere a terrible thunderstorm breaks; no umbrellas, no cover, the five children and three not very robust women. The situation is such that we laugh aloud. But Fidi cries; R. lifts him up and is both touched and pleased when the little boy throws his arms around his neck and calms down.
We arrive home in an indescribable state, the children put to bed at once. R. has a chill after all. Our friends also go to lie down; they are scarcely able to take off their clothes and their shoes.
R. talks about the incident in the evening: “That is my fate. What demon drives me to seek out devious paths when the sky is overcast? On top of that I took a wrong turning, and you follow behind, unhesitating; we are a nice pair of fools!”
We go to bed in good spirits.