Tuesday, 17 March 1874

I go out on foot with Papa (blue dress -- good); it is beginning to grow hot, and I become unhappy. There is nothing more disagreeable for me than heat; I can enjoy nothing and I become ugly. We join everyone at 55; the dividing wall is half done.
I go by carriage into town with Machenka. The old Furstenbergs overtake me -- the old fools.
I am bored, and Nice is becoming tedious; it smells of summer. The sun burns. My dearest wish is to leave, to leave as quickly as possible! Nice is possible from November to the middle of March. When I think that I am condemned to live in Nice, I weep. But weeping is very natural for me; scarcely a day passes without my weeping.
In the evening I play and win another eighteen francs. I am always [pleased] to win; that is what is called being lucky.
I believe seriously that they are going to give the beautiful Obelisk to the parvus Fedus. For that one must believe he is very rich; otherwise one would not give so beautiful a girl to a Fedus like him. Today my aunt saw the Duchess de Mouchy in her carriage, all in pink, with Fedus; she would not take him everywhere with her and the Obelisk for nothing.
Leaving Maman's room and closing the door, I struck my ear -- a blow so hard that it made me cry. Maman was alarmed; I came to her. Then we speak of how and where we shall live. For I am trying with all my strength to change our position, which is hideous. I weep in advance at the thought of staying in Nice; nothing drives me to such despair as this thought!
My ear hurt and I was weeping.
-- Put something on it; there will be a bruise, the ear will be all blue -- nothing can be done! said Maman.
-- The bruise will do for Nice, and nothing too fine is needed for Nice! I replied, weeping.
-- We shall not stay in Nice!
-- We shall stay; I can see it -- it will be like last year!
It is truly dreadful to live in Nice always, always, always! Three months in Nice are possible, but always -- it is beyond my strength! I weep for my sad existence every day, every evening, all my life!
I shall age if I weep too much, but it is not my fault -- I suffer; if I did not weep it would be worse.
But enough of tears, of suffering and of sorrows; let me say a few foolish things to distract myself.
Maman is angry about Fedus; she really believes this man pleases me, and she caricatures him and mocks him. They are strange, these people -- they believe Fedus pleases me because he looks at me!
Besides, he is going to marry; that will put a disagreeable end to the jokes. Why is it that as soon as they tease me about a man, that man marries? What does it matter to me?
Here is another notebook filled, and it is only the emptier for it.
I have been unhappy for some time; when shall I live as I wish!
[Passage probably written earlier:]
-- 1 -- a hen laying eggs made of ice cream with jelly inside.
-- 2 -- a ball gown of dark blue cloth and white tulle.
[Pages added to the notebook]
He has not yet arrived. At the lesson I said his name and I blushed and was so flustered that I hid behind my book as though I were reading. This name acts powerfully on me. But never in my life nor as much shall I love [anyone] as I love him. Him, only him! The incomparable Hamilton.