Sunday, October 8:
Very dismal experience with Blandine; I am told that recently she read aloud from a book, “‘There was once a nasty mama, she left the papa and married someone else; that was very nasty, I shall never do it.’” And that in front of two maidservants, who are telling others about it. All that is left for me to do is to look after this child as I have so far done and do without her love. God will aid me.
At first I wanted to ignore the whole thing, but my mother’s heart cannot bear to regard the situation as hopeless, and so I chose the end of family lunch to tell the children and R. what Boni had done. Great consternation; I hope it will not be forgotten.
In the course of the day I am persuaded by various reports that Hermine has been a bad influence on the children, and, in spite of the difficulties in which I find myself at present, I write her not to return. We also have to dismiss the groom, since he downright torments poor Grane. However, R. goes on working steadily, despite these domestic turmoils. In the evening we read some pages of Carlyle. R. writes to Ottilie about a nursemaid, and I to Kathchen.