Dear Minna,
Though I didn't strictly mean to expect you any more, since you never come, just now I felt drawn to the Post notwithstanding, to see if you would come. Of course you have not, once again, but in your place a letter of yesterday telling me you no doubt would come to-day. I don't know what to make of it. For that matter, even if you didn't come yourself, you surely might have forwarded the big letter that lies in your rooms for me; I am much annoyed at receiving no more letters. —
(Apropos, I must assure you again, that (after my making you the expensive birthday-present) your having gone to Sulzer for money has been particularly distasteful to me this time. You might have said a word to me about it first; it would have been quite easy for me to get money from Karl — and so on.) —
We shall have very fine weather again to-day; but presumably you'll wait once more until it's bad, and then not come, of course, because of it. I have been here 3 weeks, and you haven't called on me a single time yet. All the other guests here, who have relatives in the neighbourhood, have been visited by them repeatedly. I'm quite ashamed of myself, and keep saying: My wife will come tomorrow, or, She'll come the first fine day. — But there, remain where you're better off; I shall just give it up entirely, not to set myself in this eternal flurry of waiting in vain.
— From all which, dear Minna, you will perceive the good humour you put me in. May it soon grow better, or the cure will certainly not take much effect on me. Farewell, and write soon again to
Thy Richard.
Source: Richard to Minna Wagner: Letters to His First Wife, trans. William Ashton Ellis, Vol. 1 (H. Grevel & Co., 1909), No. 41