Sunday, March 12:
R. had a good night. We have breakfast on the terrace, and since the sun is quite dazzling, we hang up Schnapp.’s traveling rug as a “black sail.” Our conversation turns to the French, and once more we are reminded of the old image of apes and tigers, that is to say, the feeling that nothing could ever come close to the pitiless cruelty of this nation, were it ever to conquer Germany.
The children have accepted an invitation today to a late breakfast at Camastra, and I go there as chaperone. Since R. makes a remark about the family’s wasteful abundance, I cannot help being most painfully conscious of the difference between the ways of youth and the inclinations of old age, and of how conflicting my own role is. I have to weep, but not violently, just such tears as a God will take heed of. Since the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg’s heir paid us a first call yesterday, R. instructed me to make an appointment with the good people for today; we are received very graciously at 4:30. R. is very pleased with the friendly gentleman’s free and open character, but he finds Her Imperial Highness thoroughly disagreeable: in her features he discerns a Phryne-like cruelty, and he feels that only extreme measures would be of any avail against such a character.
In the evening we have some friends with us, among them the abbé, tutor of young Count Mazzarino, and Dr. Cervello; R. teases the latter by remarking that the physicians always recommend caution because they well know that they can be of no help to someone who becomes ill! To the abbé he says that there are too many priests, and it is such a good thing that one ought not to abuse it. He sits down at the piano and sings something from Le Postillon, then Rub. plays his “Picture” of the Wood-bird, after R. has explained what it is about, to the enchantment of all. And somehow or other it comes about that the children sing his Gruß der Getreuen, Wisst ihr, Kinder, and create a splendid effect with them. I feel overwhelming bliss at being permitted once again to enjoy all these moments of happiness, and I end this day with blessings in my heart.