Saturday, December 19:
I dreamed about mourning clothes, the consequence of yesterday’s painful experience. R. dreamed of royal personages whom he had to receive, among them a fair-haired woman who wept in vexation at being slighted.
R. prepares for his journey and at one o’clock leaves for Leipzig, where tomorrow he will see Frl. Mahlknecht in Jessonda.
After he has gone, I feel such a melancholy sense of emptiness, which is conjured away by work. I felt downright afraid to return home.
In connection with his dream of the previous night, we spoke yesterday about the wretchedness arising from young men’s marrying too early. R. says, “The man must be 40 and the woman 20, otherwise the result is misery.” Now I wish him a good, good night! May all good spirits be with him!