Friday, May 16:
R. had a good night. We chat about all sorts of things; he then goes to his “lazing about,” as he calls it, though he would like to have good weather for it. Letter from Malwida with suggestions for Rome and Naples. “I want one element, not an assortment,” says R. and sticks to Naples. He shows me an Englishman’s remark about Tristan.
The gray weather at first permits only a walk in the garden, but then he gathers all the children, including Lusch, and takes them to Angermann’s after a short walk. To Lulu he says, “You can do anything together with your father,” and tells her how I was once willing to seat myself in a wheelbarrow in Frankfurt a/M., when he asked me to. To me, of course, it had seemed more like the celestial Wain! ...
In the evening he is much vexed at seeing a manuscript of his being offered for sale. He sends a telegram to the publisher. A game of whist with the ballet master and Herr Rubinstein. (R. rather agitated.)