Tuesday, September 7:
Letter from Judith, very nice and affectionate; reply to her at once. For R. a letter from Peter Cornelius, who also now intends to leave the music school; that pleases us, for we had assumed that P. C. was not at all interested in our sufferings. Richard takes the opportunity of writing to Düfflipp and describing the whole situation to him.
Beautiful autumn day which fills me with tranquillity, but unfortunately R. is not well; the letter and above all the remembrance of all our experiences are downright destroying him. He also finds Marie Muchanoff's visit very distasteful. He goes out for a walk, I remain at home with the children. Siegfried's new carriage arrives, great excitement among the children. Go to meet R.; he is unwell.
Very quiet evening; he tells me about his uncle Adolph, whose memory is very precious to him. At supper he was overcome with great ill humor about the wretchedness of the world! If only he could get back to his work tomorrow!