You made me very uneasy, dear Minna, with your silence. I telegraphed about it yesterday to Herr Dr Erismann, prepaying an answer; remarkable to say, none has reached me, and I mean to make inquiry into it. Luckily I received your letter in the afternoon, however, and that relieved my mind. Eh, eh, I told you you'd experience wonders from your cure; that a suppressed catarrh came out at once, e.g., was quite in order, and you may simply congratulate yourself upon it. Many another thing will likewise come out, that has only been repressed by the eternal feverish agitation of your nerves, but on the other hand so sorely aggravated your complaint itself. I could never prevent your exposing yourself to a chill; you took no notice of the consequences — but they were partly to blame for the increase of your illness.
Well, your having such good trust in it gives me the most hope of the cure's successful issue. Just keep to that, and so give me the relief of having a sound and right sensible wife again soon. I know I've to overlook much in you for the state to which your ailment has reduced you; so may everything turn for the best! — I'll hope so! —
Now keep to it, think of nothing but your health. Without it there's no hope for any of us! —
Nothing special has arrived in the way of letters; what pleased me most, was the kind reply of Dr R., who really had been much offended: I enclose this letter for your heartening. Nevertheless the old gentleman did indeed more harm than help you, and one is really too considerate towards such people. But we'll let that drop for this once. —
I have received a second message from Erard's, that the piano went off yesterday. — For the rest, I am in no particular humour yet, as you may easily imagine; I haven't the least disposition for work. Perhaps I therefore shall accept Wille's invitation to spend a couple of days with them; I suppose you'll have nothing against it. Perhaps it will distract me a little; the agitations and exertions since the beginning of this month have been a shade too great, you know.
As I haven't otherwise been much about yet, I can only tell you of our household: that Friedrich is behaving exemplarily and doing an enormous amount in the garden; it really will be very pretty. Lisette had to get cupped yesterday. Both of them serve me very well, and accordingly it's quite endurable at home here. I have nothing further to tell you concerning ourselves; so soon as anything occurs, you shall hear of it at once. Now give the Herr Doctor my hearty regards, and thank him most profoundly for his care. For yourself, dear old girl, don't be slack about writing, but go on sending me a perfect diary of your treatment. Only patience and courage! Everything will come right, for sure, and after all troubles and storms a peaceful, contented old age will appear in the end!
Farewell, behave yourself, and give me tranquillising news as frequently as possible.
Thy good Richard.
Source: Richard to Minna Wagner: Letters to His First Wife, trans. William Ashton Ellis, Vol. 1 (H. Grevel & Co., 1909), No. 120