Monday, August 28:
R. had a tolerable night. A letter from Boni brings us good news and a nice picture of a well-formed character. At lunch we have friend Sulzer and his son (yesterday, too), and we take much delight in this unique man, though R. forbids me to ask him so many questions about political economy. At 5 o’clock the reception in the garden. All the artists, also the Grand Duke of Weimar and the Princess of Meiningen. R. is there at the beginning and is quite vexed by the arrival of the nonartistic guests. He disappears, then returns, makes the rounds of the garden with me, finally converses for a while with the Grand Duke, and even recovers his spirits with the Princess, when he sees that his unreserved and positive character is breaking down her stiffness. She told him that her father could not come because of his wife’s illness. “Very wrong of him,” says R. “He should have let her be ill and come all the same!” But in the evening he is still depressed. The whist table is set up for my father with Jouk. and Stein. (Herr v. Bürkel has sent a reassuring reply.)