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Sunday, 15 October 1876 (3 October)
And first of all, I am independent! At sixteen one has the right to choose a guardian, whom one is free to change as often as one likes. With this guardian’s signature I can do whatever I want. To act more freely I asked for Alexandre as guardian, and obtained him at once. In this way I have no need to be of age.Dimanche 15 octobre 1876 (3 octobre)
Maman writes to me abusing my father, and since this abuse was at bottom a set of instructive truths, I gave him the letter.
Maman m’écrit des injures contre mon père et comme ces injures étaient au fond des vérités instructives, je lui donnai la lettre.
After seeing Alexandre we left. Absorbed in daydreams the whole way, I did not say a word. Summer seems to have come back, and were it not for the trees, yellow and ready to shed their leaves, one would think oneself in some lovely country.
Après avoir vu Alexandre, nous partîmes. Occupée à des rêveries pendant tout le trajet je ne parlai point. L’été semble revenu et si ce n’étaient ces arbres jaunes et prêts à s’effeuiller on se croirait dans un beau pays.
Only as we were nearing Gavronzi did I ask my honoured father the cause of his anger (as if I did not know it)!
Seulement en approchant de Gavronzi je demandai à Monsieur mon père la cause (comme si je ne la savais pas) de sa colère !