Wednesday, October 26:
R. had a good night, but he has given up his article. My father thanks us for the telegram. He shows me an article in the newspaper about 'Herodom and Christianity'; we regret that it is such an insignificant one and would have preferred it to be ignored entirely.
R. regards me while I am reading: 'I suppose I am still allowed to look at you? A noble human countenance, it transforms all creation - and how rare that is!' When I speak of Lusch, he says, 'Oh, all we can do is die, for the worries will not cease, the children keep bringing us back to them - the girls most of all, since they have to mingle with alien lives.'
At 3:30 Prof. Leube from Erlangen. Long consultation, the best of results - R.'s organs completely healthy; only strict diet and much fresh air necessary. Abundant - indeed, superabundant - joy following silent fears! A few moments of chat with the excellent doctor.
In the evening the Grosses and Wolz. Much about our impending journey and friendly chat, also billiards. We talk about short stories, and R. tells us of something which occurred to him during his walks in the Sihl Valley near Zurich; the rescuer - a man living quite alone and dispensing justice - turning into a mischief-maker. He also talks about his work and regrets that one can no longer very well use the word Weiber for 'women' - Frauen has an entirely different meaning. Recently he praised Goethe for his great knowledge of the German language; he says he is constantly astonished by it.