Diary of Marie Bashkirtseff
CZENUKFR

Saturday, 29 December 1877

Monsieur Robert-Fleury was very pleased with me. He spent at least half an hour before a life-size pair of feet I had done; asked me again whether I had ever painted; said that I evidently wished to take painting seriously; asked how long I could stay in Paris; expressed a desire to see my first work in colour; asked how I had done it. I replied that I had done it for amusement. As this went on, everyone came and gathered behind him to listen, and in the midst of it all — I dare say it — with general astonishment, he declared that if I wished I could paint. To which I replied that I was not dying to do so and preferred to perfect my drawing, a resolution he applauded warmly. I then added that I begged him to treat me very severely, which he promised to do, saying he would do so all the more willingly because it was worth the trouble.

# Samedi 29 décembre 1877

This scene left me very pleased, and then serious — I no longer know why.

Cette scène m'a rendue très contente et puis sérieuse, je ne sais plus pourquoi.

This evening at tea: the Comtesse de Fayet, the Baron d'Alt, and Monseigneur. For the time being La Fayet is a necessary evil. She has a dreadful manner; I felt affronted at having to endure her — but I hope to be rid of her now that the prince has been introduced and has called on us. He will always be one more suitor at least. He is small, dark, fresh-complexioned, with a long black moustache, a large and mobile lower jaw, and a forehead that often furrows. Good manners, unassuming, not too stupid for the present, a calm and unremarkable air. He helped me make my chocolate and seems a decent enough fellow.

Ce soir à thé, la comtesse de Fayet, le baron d'Alt, et Monseigneur. La Fayet est en attendant un mal presque nécessaire. Elle a un genre horrible, je me sentais offensée de la souffrir, mais j'espère en être délivrée puisque le prince est présenté et est venu chez nous. Ce sera toujours un cavalier de plus. Il est petit, brun, le teint frais, la moustache noire et longue, la mâchoire inférieure grande et mobile et le front qui se plisse souvent. Bonnes manières, simple, pas trop bête en attendant, air calme plat. Il m'a aidée à faire mon chocolat et d'ailleurs paraît bon garçon.

He has a high opinion of Popaul, which suits me.

Il a une haute opinion de Popaul, ce qui me convient.

But good heavens, I forget to mention that Paul — my little brother Paul — arrived this morning at six o'clock. He is on excellent terms with his father and will leave again in a few days. He is fat, stout; beside him I look like a small princess. At eighteen, a man — and an immense man — a proper gentleman, and this gentleman went to see "La Tzigane" at the Renaissance.

Mais mon Dieu j'oublie de vous dire que Paul, mon petit frère Paul est arrivé ce matin à six heures. Il est au mieux avec son père et repartira dans quelques jours. Il est gras, gros, j'ai l'air d'une petite princesse à côté de lui. A dix-huit ans un homme et un homme immense, un Monsieur enfin et ce Monsieur est allé voir "La Tzigane" à la Renaissance.

He is not disagreeable, and I hope he is not lying when he says he adores the country and desires no other existence. Let everyone find happiness where they may, and if this boy could truly become a gentleman-farmer,1 it would be a good thing.

Il n'est pas détestable et j'espère qu'il ne ment pas en disant qu'il adore la campagne et ne désire aucune autre existence. Que chacun prenne son bonheur où il le trouve et si ce garçon pouvait vraiment devenir un ==gentleman-farmer==, ce serait bien.

Poor Grand-papa was very happy to see him.

Pauvre grand-papa a été très heureux de le voir.

I have been pretty and better dressed the whole time than when Cassagnac came. Is that not vexing!

J'ai tout le temps été jolie et mieux habillée que lorsqu'est venue Cassagnac. N'est-ce pas désagréable !

This evening I wore an ideal dress — chaste and decent but too simple to wear in Paris anywhere but at home; my hair was done as Blanc likes it, the last years of the Empire or classical style, complexion white and faintly pink... In short — it is absurd.

Ce soir j'avais une robe idéale, chaste et décente mais trop simple pour être portée à Paris ailleurs que chez soi, j'étais coiffée comme aime Blanc, *dernières années de /'Empire* ou antique, teint blanc et légèrement rosé... Bref ! C'est absurde.

Notes

In English in the original. ↩