Monday, 4 June 1877
It is not possible to be crossed in such a petty way, and in the most trivial matters, as I am crossed. I am the mistress of the household, as they say — and it takes more or less vexing arguments to obtain the most wretched half-litre of milk. I speak literally and exaggerate nothing. My books were packed — and over this there were endless petty obstructions: they refused to hand over the trunk keys, then produced them with ill grace; then they pretended not to understand why all this packing, as if departure had never been mentioned, as if we were installed in Nice forever. I became so irritated that I replied to all the foolish remarks that ought to have been passed over in silence... What put the crown on it was that instead of keeping quiet, they provoked me — as if they were me.# Lundi 4 juin 1877
I fled to my room, where some frivolous reading gradually calmed me. Fortunately there were no outsiders — Nemekoff, who shows not the slightest desire for the conjugal bond, left before dinner.
Je me suis enfuie chez moi où une lecture frivole m'a peu à peu calmée. Heureusement il n'y avait personne d'étranger, Nemekoff qui n'a pas l'air du tout de désirer l'hymen, est parti avant le dîner.
It is so hot that I am doubly exhausted.
Il fait si chaud que je suis doublement fatiguée.