Monday, 19 August 1878

There is something in our household I cannot bear! The petty vexations about nothing, the incredible carelessness in matters of consequence — that is everyone's bedrock. And then what revolts me is this moral stupefaction that produces a kind of dreadful cruelty consisting in abandoning Dina and me.
They think it natural that a girl of my age should spend her life within four walls — literally. It is a truly dreadful life, for one cannot dispense with the ordinary social connections of civilised society unless one is an exception... I was born into this, grew up in this, saw it every day, and yet I feel as if I had fallen into it by accident; I am astonished, I revolt, and I cannot even express what is lacking, because everything is lacking.
Mademoiselle Oelsnitz — she who was governess with Mme Anitchkoff — is now with us... she left that household owing to her stepmother's intrigues, and because she was in love with Walitsky... She will be a sort of governess; I shall dress her up and show her great deference in shops to give her authority — for she is not impressive: small, red-haired, young, sad. A round face that looks like a caricature of the moon when the moon is sad.
I hope to begin at the atelier on Wednesday or Thursday. Well — I have a terrible illness. I am disgusted with myself. It is not the first time I have detested myself, but it is no less terrible for that. To hate another whom one can avoid — but to hate oneself: there is torment.