From Baron Charles de Gericke d'Herwynen to Maria *Douchenka* 1874, 22 July, Spa
At ten o'clock I go riding with Princess Eristoff and the count. Maman, Dina, and Walitsky are in the carriage. On the way we pay a brief visit to...
Princess Marguerite was at church, and all elegant Spa with her.
I wake at half past seven and spend an hour before my mirror, then put on my riding habit and go out on horseback with Dina, but our horses are...
I sleep until noon and feel very unwell all day. Maman gets up; the Greek pays a brief visit. At four o'clock, Dina, Paul, and I go out on horseback;...
I am at fault; I ought to be severely punished. Today I felt faint several times. Despite this, I dined at the Orange. We were leaving when Jahal...
I shall try to mend myself; such a state is unbearable.
I think that when I am independent I shall have the young men do things of this sort under my direction, and even cleverer things. They will adore me.
At three o'clock we set out. Maman wears an ensemble of black velvet, white muslin, guipure lace, and mauve silk, a hat of matching flowers; Dina in...
At the concert, Wheelwright with his magnificent greyhound comes to speak with us; he is racing tomorrow.
(Grey dress, unflattering.) We set out and take our places in the front row, opposite Marguerite's pavilion. There is a crowd: the Macainnes, the...
I take an iron bath, then go to breakfast at Baas with Maman. I see a man climbing the few steps to the left, suddenly bend down, then bow and go...
I love Spa, and I often love Nice. I picture Nice to myself -- that is, our villa one afternoon after the rain, and ==Blackprince== on the Promenade...
At Baas, we find Gericke but do not look at him.
I wake every day with blue bags under my eyes and crumpled skin. I am so ugly. The Greek pays us a visit of two hours and perhaps more. The Pole...
At four o'clock we go to the Redoute, where the music plays because of the rain, but no one is there. In the reading room the count asks me to play...