Thursday, August 21:
My father's visit - R. and he splendid together; R. remarkably patient, even when listening to music which gives him no pleasure. Much talk about vivisection, much whist in the evening, a great deal of joking by R. about the “old priest” he wants made into a cardinal.
On the 23rd, R. starts on the orchestration, but soon breaks off. He is greatly stimulated by his reading of Haug's Old Testament, and he tells me his ideas on our religion, which he intends to put down in writing again. Pleasure in Eva's patience.
On the 25th, deep and tender communion with R., who plays the Idyll to me; he tells me he wants to live, not to think of dying. On one occasion we go to visit the children at the Riedelsberg with my father.
On Friday the 29th, second act of Parsifal, R. tired. In the evening we three alone, whist with a dummy, impossible for me to play against R. or to see him in a difficult situation without wanting to help him. Nice letter from the King, who is pleased with our little gift.
On Sunday, August 31, at 1:10, my father departs with Lusch; they are spending a day in Munich, from there he goes on to Rome, she to our friends the Bassenheims. Rainy day. We walk from the station to the Riedelsberg with the three children and bring their stay there to an end. Quiet lunch, much that cannot be spoken; in the evening the children to the Sonne hotel. R. and I alone; deep silence, a star shines gloriously in between curtain and window frame, a greeting full of promise! I feel it in the depths of my soul. R. watches it as it runs like a glowworm through the clouds and is lost in the heavens; but with what grandeur and benevolence it peeped in on me as I sat on the sofa beside the piano! We stay silent or chat, R. and I, deeply at one in all we do.