Thursday, 26 June 1873

The Italian teacher gave a lesson at the new villa. I am beginning to arrange the lessons little by little. They brought my bath. I bought two towels to cover my dressing table, which without them is not pretty. I arrange it in my own fashion, with a mirror I bought at Lambert's on leaving Acqua Viva. It had belonged to Mlle Collignon.
Paul sent Adam to our neighbours to ask them to park their carriage closer, so that we might set up our croquet in front of the house. They consented. Paul and I went to thank them. He is a Russian, Ternavski, married to an American; they have two or three children. They live on the second floor, in half of it; the other half is ours. We immediately set up the croquet and played. The sun is scorching and I had great difficulty bearing it. Maman pulled us from the game for the sea bath; Mme Gignoux was there — Maman stayed with her while I bathed.
The monkey climbed up through the shutters to our neighbours' on the second floor; he broke some vases and I do not know what else. M. Ternavski was very frightened and set about chasing Pitou. We were afraid the Tolstoy episode would repeat itself, but in the evening, while we were playing croquet with Khalkionoff, Ternavski came out to the garden; Maman apologized to him. He is a proper and kind man. The game scarcely over, I went to bed, leaving Khalkionoff, Paul, and Dina at Paul's. I cannot write — I have no ink; I have not yet bought any.