Thursday, 1 November 1877

Here are letters from Hall that must be answered.
They are decidedly pleased with me at the studio — it seems I am doing astonishing things.
In the evening the studio is closed — it is a holiday. We go to see Dora. Vasconcellos first, then des Perrières, whom we bring back to take tea with us; it is only a quarter to eleven.
Poor boy! He is completely ruined and must leave his country to seek his fortune. He says he cannot bear to lack the necessities where he has always had more than enough. One rarely meets men as sympathetic as he is. He moved me to tenderness and I was genuinely affected. Poor boy... and I joked! How I disgust myself! He will think me stupid, or childish, or odious. [One line cancelled]