Monday, April 10:
R. had a good night, but he is vexed by the gray weather. Our morning conversation concerns yesterday's show, R. says he was fascinated by the first entrance of the two women, since they took no notice of us, the audience, at all, but just spoke very earnestly with each other! Excitement at lunch over Isolde's birthday, R. sings two themes from Tristan, then proposes her health with warm delight; but then he is embarrassed by the presence of the Prince, and our departure for Messina takes place in unfavorable circumstances. But he gradually recovers his good spirits, and in Messina, while the children are enjoying themselves on the sea, we two go for a splendid drive to the top of Mount Cappuccini, then to the cathedral. The sky is bright, and who could hope to describe all the rest? When I tell him how much I enjoy not seeing beautiful things before he does, that is to say, never without him, but always with him, he replies, "And I am glad to see nothing after you!" We return home, confine ourselves just to swapping reports with the children, have a short game of whist, and go off to bed.