Friday, 5 October 1877

— Did you do this alone? asked Monsieur Julian as he entered the studio.
— Yes, Monsieur.
I was as red as if I had been lying...
— Well then... I am very pleased, very pleased.
— Yes?
— Very pleased.
And I too, needless to say!
There follow the advice he gave me.
I am still dazzled by the superiority of the others over me, but I am already less afraid.
These are women with three, four years of studio work, of copying at the Louvre, of serious study. And I... Larderei and that is all.
Poor Rosalie is ill — I shall do everything to keep her, ill or not. The idea of being without Rosalie! Since she has been with me she has had a place in everything, beginning with Alexandre.
I should be less happy about returning to Italy if she were not to accompany me.

Notes

Larderei was Marie's previous drawing teacher in Nice, evidently far less rigorous than the Parisian professional training.