Thursday, June 30:
Yesterday I fully intended to write to Herr Wüllner to leave him in no doubt about the nature of his misdeed. Today I find it more sensible and dignified to remain silent.
Letter to R. from Frl. v. Meysenbug: she wants to come here. The Music Society in Vienna inquires whether R. has received the invitation, thereby ignoring all that has happened.
While Fidi is crawling on the carpet in front of me, R. thinks of the November day on which I arrived here; at once my final parting from Hans comes into my mind, and I shudder in agony. Who would require distractions, once he has looked down into the pit of sorrow and wandered on the highest heights of bliss?
Yesterday Richter took the children for a ride in a boat along the Tribschen banks; I did not wish to deprive the children of their enjoyment on account of my nervousness, and, so as not to make things difficult for Richter, I did not go into the boat. Thus I was running around on the bank in the most absurd, indescribable fear, unceasingly working out how best I could leap to the rescue in case of an accident. The ride was calm and pleasant, Rus swam behind the children’s boat, 7 little ones enjoyed their pleasure (Willie and the Am Rhyn children as well), I suffered on my own behalf and rejoiced on theirs.
Two professors’ wives from Berlin write to R. to express their pleasure in Die Meistersinger and to beg him to write another such lighthearted opera.
Family lunch, Boni rather unwell; her character has very noticeably taken a turn for the better. Italian newspaper, which reports on the great impression made by Der fliegende Holländer in Weimar. My father’s “Beethoven Cantata,” unfortunately rendered unenjoyable by its text, and anyway its whole form (the Eroica theme is sung!), is disagreeable.
Nice letter from Frau Dr. Wille, she wants to visit us, since we do not wish to visit her before the wedding. In the evening R. plays with Richter Beethoven’s C-sharp Minor Quartet; ever-recurring astonishment over this purest piece of Beethoveniana.