Monday, May 22:
Happy awakening; then, unfortunately, a chest spasm, so that the children have to wait before bringing their greetings. During this delay, sudden arrival of Gravina, joy and shock, I hide him with our Count, make signs to the children, who have all seen him except for Blandine! At last the “Thespis Cart” can be held. R. comes downstairs, receives his congratulations. After embracing the children in tears, he goes away; Boni, still in her costume, is sobbing in the knowledge that this will be her last festival; we call her, she keeps her hands over her face, at last she hears Gravina’s voice, and we withdraw!
Now our task is to surprise R. with this new arrival. The hangings are arranged in the salon, and after I have shown R. the little gifts in the garden, fish, golden pheasant, and roses, we enter the newly decorated room; the bell for lunch is sounded, and Biagino is the first to enter. R.’s joy is very great, and he tells us the arrival has put new spirit into him, for he had been feeling very run down. A look from Else tells me that the boys have arrived. Blandine rises and speaks her toast very beautifully (R. tells me she looked completely transfigured) [toast enclosed in the Diaries; see notes]. Else succeeds in disappearing without R.’s noticing, and, supported by her, the choir starts to sing quite wonderfully, greatly affecting us all. R. hopes that his performances will go off as well as these little festival offerings!
At coffee Fidi, dressed as a page, brings in the telegrams and the program for the evening, and while R. is resting and the children having a musical session at Jouk.’s, I decorate the hall for the performance. Then R. and I go off to see the black swans, which give him very great delight, and, returning home, we find the 50 boys, who, looked after by Siegfried, fill Wahnfried with the sounds of Parsifal and other merry noises. At 8 o’clock the company of players is ready! The first play, by Cervantes, is done in a very lively manner, but there is some nervousness with Liebes-Not (between the two plays Herr Humperdinck and Herr Hausberg play the Scherzo from the symphony). But it all goes as it should, and Dahiela really distinguishes herself! The scenery arrangements also function without a hitch, and we have every reason to be satisfied with our success. R. remains in the best of spirits; nothing happened to spoil the day, and everything was allowed to succeed and to give R. a little pleasure. We were favored with lovely weather, and for me our success seems like a divine greeting!