Diary of Marie Bashkirtseff
CZENUKFR

Tuesday, 8 December 1874

I went riding from ten to twelve — grey riding habit. There was much the same crowd as every morning: the blond Italian with the dog, Trassawsky, etc. I spoke with Friedlander.
I put on my new white dress and Hamilton-grey hat, entirely of white wool — and the bodice suits me, a rare thing, res rara! We stayed the whole time at the concert, contrary to our habit. Galula came, then Monsieur le comte de Barrême, who stayed a long while; then the Vicomte Walsh — that little old man who with his petty miseries sows petty quarrels among his petty circle.
Madame Vigier was magnificent — a pearl-grey satin jacket, like the Duke's jockeys, an enormous fur hat with a violet velvet crown and a great red bow on her breast in front. Old fool! But beautiful compared to the others. Every moment Audiffret, Saëtone, and the limping marquis went by; the last stopped in front of our carriage. Maman and my aunt had their backs to him; I alone could see him, and he stared for a few moments. Idiot.
The sun was shining, the air was crisp, and all that crowd looked crisp too — coming and going, bustling about. Happy people! Alack!
My white dress was a veritable triumph. [Crossed out: at the moment] I walked from the public garden (with Maman) as far as the middle of the Promenade, then turned back and finally came home. In every language I heard as I passed: molto graziosa, sehr schön, how pretty, très joli, etc. etc. — always my dress. "Oh, it is ravishing!" said one lady. "That is indeed very nice," said the tall American. "Vous avec une très jolie toilette!" Lucie Durand called to me [Crossed out: when I had just got out of the carriage, with] with her hard, broad accent as I stepped down from the carriage.
— Really? — and my "really?" was lost in the air.
Audiffret, whom we encountered on foot with that pinched air he assumes when walking, did not look at me — but I know that game; the little wretch saw me perfectly well, and I am not one to be fooled in that fashion.
I had tea with Georges, who has sobered up, washed and dressed. All the others are at Pelikans'. That gentleman wished to visit us and asked every day when he might — but Georges was drinking.
Madame Howard paid us a call.

Notes

In Latin in the original — "a rare thing!" ↩
In English in the original. An archaic/literary exclamation, found in Shakespeare. ↩
In Italian in the original — "very gracious/pretty." ↩
In German in the original — "very beautiful." ↩
In English in the original. ↩
In English in the original. ↩