Diary of Marie Bashkirtseff
CZENUKFR

Thursday, 5 June 1879

Jeanne posed, and then we went together to Madame de Souza's, who receives on Thursdays.
And in the evening to the Lesseps': Maman came with me to make a better impression on our hosts. Monsieur de Lesseps takes a candle and leads us to visit the children, all put to bed and asleep. It is exactly like a guide showing you the curiosities of a museum.
The guests are brought in batches to view the seven wonders — given the father's age.
I danced — on the whole, a polite success at best. That does not surprise me, for though well dressed and well coiffed I am tired, sleepy, dull. I was quite right to think and to say that these amusements were finished for me — not because I have worn them out, but because I have wept for them too much.