Diary of Marie Bashkirtseff
CZENUKFR

Tuesday, 23 December 1873

I go to the band with my aunt and Papa (brown dress, not bad). I did not put on a corset, to see; there is no difference, only it is very uncomfortable.
The Comtesse and Mlle de Galve are walking, in divinely original dresses like my gray jacket -- plain skirt, tunic, jacket with two rows of buttons. Mademoiselle wears the same hat, gray.
Why did I not think of having such a dress! How stupid I am! Truly I am very vexed! It is so original, so distinctive, so beautiful; beside such a dress everything seems common and ordinary; such a dress stands out from a thousand. Oh triple fool that I am!
I thought she was already married to the prince. I go back to put on my corset and fetch Hitchcock. We go out again by carriage; I take my white fabric to Monier. Who knows how she will make this dress!
No, but those Galve dresses! I gave them the idea with my jacket; I had the idea myself.
We walk along the Quai Massena, my aunt and I, and again we encounter those dresses.
This evening I go to the theatre: Le Legs, a one-act comedy by Marivaux, and the ballet Lo Specchio Infernale. I had waited impatiently -- it has been nearly three months since I was at the theatre. I put on the white dress; after a thousand failures, a rather pretty coiffure, like every day with the difference that I let the hair fall behind. On the whole not bad, even good; I am fairly content. We are only three and a half: myself, my aunt, Dina and Nadinka. Walitsky, Paul -- we catch a bit of the Legs, boring and long. The Howards come beside us -- Helene, Lise, father and mother. They are nice, but dressed as in Nice. The Galves are on the ground floor, as always in black with white open collars, muslin. The little one has cut her hair in front; she is no longer so pretty.

^[In English in the original.]
La Gioia in her box (stage box opposite the prefect's) -- in black, a square neckline in the classical style; one could see nearly all her bosom. On her head a forest of violets, which I took for a Scottish kerchief.

^[In English in the original.]
It is true that she looks wretched since she is no longer insured. She has lost much; she no longer has the air of a queen. The rest of the theatre, except for Mmes Prodgers, Vigier, Durand, Starzinska, Labanoff-Rostouzoff and a few others, is filled with cocottes of every description.

^[In English in the original.]
The stalls full -- King Lewin with Jarozinsky, Gros and the whole company, and at last Emile d'Audiffret-Latour. That young pig is not bad in Nice. Little Lambertye does not stop looking at me; my aunt did not fail to notice. Count Gabrielli said he was one of the dandies of Paris. I pity Paris.
Diadia and M. Howard had come to see us; young Striker too. They are with Miss Fish and another. This Fish is the belle of the balls, of the hotels -- a little nothing much, in the style of Nathalie Galitzine but smaller.
Let us come to the ballet. It was a series of quacks, of cracks, of missed effects, of failures. They whistled and shouted; at the end one did not know if it was over -- they shouted and whistled all the more. At last we leave thinking we are the last, but everyone was waiting for their carriage; it was only near eleven. We too were waiting, and I know not whence Lambertye came to station himself not far from us and stare. Latour was strolling in the middle of the street, watching those who departed.

^[In English in the original.]
They procure us a sort of carriage. Striker, Fish & Co. go on foot.
Maman made -- or rather told Paul to apologize. I shall speak to him, but always reserved so as not to expose myself to impertinences.
(Now soon, soon they will come. After 10 January. Oh! Terror.) I felt at ease at the theatre; I spoke with the Howards. But great God, what shall I do if they come -- I grow cold just thinking of it.