Saturday, October 22:
My father’s birthday! From France the news that Bazaine, with whom negotiations are going on, will probably take things in hand and at last restore order in France.
Fidi unwell; his teeth are coming in slowly and with difficulty, he has four so far, and he is also backward in walking and speaking. His only word is Ati. We drink to my father’s health at lunch; R. suddenly laughs and says, “I did things differently from Wotan and Sachs, I married Brünnhilde and Eva right away; I let the good people say many excellent things, but I take care not to follow them.”
Fine day, which I devote entirely to the children, play charades with them, etc. In the evening read The Knights by Aristophanes. (Letter from Marie Muchanoff; she is not coming.)