Monday, May 22:
Awake all night thinking of R.: how my life would be unthinkable without him, how little I can contribute to his happiness, how dearly I should like to spare him every atom of pain. The night before Hans had appeared to me with gray hair and beard, weeping; that moved me greatly, yet I feel I must devote myself to R. God grant that I may do it to his complete benefit!
Up at 4 o’clock to arrange the salon; set up the statuettes around R.’s bust, as if in a grove. Later the children in their costumes: Loulou as Senta, Boni Elisabeth, Eva Isolde, each in front of her “man”; at about 8 o’clock we are ready, I at the foot of the bust as Sieglinde with Fidi in my arms.
We do our piece well and R. is happy, indeed moved; he says that as Sieglinde I remind him of our return from Italy. All the children do honor to their names, and R. praises the costumes. Amicable breakfast with the children and the loveliest of weather for the loveliest of our days!
Letters from Richter, Dufflipp, Meysenbug. In the afternoon visit from Countess Bassenheim; drove out to Winkel with her, R., and all the children. On our return we found Prof. Nietzsche in the house. We perform our birthday greeting once again. R. says it touches him all too deeply to see me in the guise of Sieglinde.
Prof. N. tells us that he intends to found a periodical, under R.’s auspices, two years hence; till then he will be busy preparing it.