Diary of Marie Bashkirtseff
CZENUKFR

Thursday, 3 January 1878

Berthe — she is my nightmare! She made me promise again to come and fetch her. A nude woman was posing.
I again spent most of the time giving her a lesson.
She absolutely wants to come back tomorrow. So it has not shocked her too greatly — yet she left the room when Julian came in and the nude woman was on the platform.
She speaks of nothing but embassies and society, and invites me to the dancing parties at the Japanese embassy — and then to the balls of Prince de Hohenlohe, the German ambassador.
— I do not know them.
— Have yourself introduced by your ambassador.
— Dear Berthe, it would be useless — neither Maman nor my aunt will go anywhere. Grand-papa is too ill and they do not care for society. They would be frightened at the very idea of going to these grand balls or of making connections, and Maman would immediately say: my father is so ill — and instead of nursing him I would be going out — oh, no. For you young ladies it is different; it is your grandfather, and besides you are young, you cannot be expected to sacrifice yourselves.
— But then you will come with me and my sister?
— I do not even know — but I think it might be managed.