Diary of Marie Bashkirtseff
CZENUKFR

Wednesday, 2 July 1873

If my thoughts continue to be as they are now, I shall have absolutely nothing to put in my poor diary, which has already been so empty for a month.

Si mes pensees continueront a etre comme elles sont maintenant, je n'aurai absolument rien a mettre dans mon pauvre journal qui deja depuis un mois est si vide.

Paul is a pleasant boy, very agreeable. But I wish he had more seriousness, more steadiness. He does not yet understand that he must work — not study, but work. If I were a boy, I would set to work and not stop until I saw myself very rich. For to marry, either the husband or the wife must have something, for one cannot make a dinner from love alone.

Paul est un gentil garcon tres plaisant. Mais je lui voudrais plus de serieux, plus de precision. Il ne comprend pas encore qu'il doit travailler, pas etudier, mais travailler. Si j'etais un garcon, je me mettrais a travailler et je ne cesserais que le jour ou je me verrais tres riche. Car pour se marier il faut que ou le mari ou la femme ait quelque chose, car on ne fera pas un diner avec de l'amour seulement.

Dina drew me a caricature of the Duke — but very like him.

Dina m'a represente en caricature le duc, mais tres ressemblant.

— I shall please you one day, she said: astride a chair harnessed to a donkey, the small grey eyes, the face tinged with red, the red hair, and fat, fat!!!

- Je te ferai plaisir un jour, dit-elle: a cheval sur une chaise attelee d'un ane, les petits yeux gris, la figure teinte de rouge, les cheveux rouges et gros, gros !!!

She settled herself on the chair exactly like him in his carriage. May it not displease His Lordship!

Elle se mit sur la chaise tout a fait comme lui en sa voiture. Qu'il n'en deplaise a Monseigneur !