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Saturday, 22 January 1881
It is cold, snow everywhere; I go out before eight o’clock every morning. The picture amuses me. Cot has seen it but told me only insignificant things, such as “it is shaping up well”, not bad, etc., and then some encouragement.Samedi 22 janvier 1881
It is true that this is the first time he has corrected me. Once Cot had gone, Tony arrived — I had asked him to by letter — chilled to the bone; it is very kind of him.
Il est vrai que c’est la première fois qu’il me corrige. Cot parti, Tony est arrivé, je l’en avais prié par lettre, tout transi de froid; c’est bien gentil à lui.
I asked him to come because, for me, Cot does not exist; I put up with him out of politeness, and that is all. Tony finds there is nothing to change, that nothing is wrong, that it is coming along quite nicely, that it may be very amusing, and that I have only to go on.
Je l’ai prié de venir parce que Cot pour moi, ça n’existe pas, je l’ai subi par politesse et voilà tout. Tony trouve qu’il n’y a rien à changer, que rien ne cloche, que cela va pas mal du tout, que ça peut ête très amusant et qu’il n’y a qu’à continuer.
Julian, who comes afterwards, is just as kind, and I see that my work amuses him, for he often comes to look at it and encourages me with good advice. He is an excellent teacher. It is all going so well that I cannot believe it.
Julian qui vient après est aussi gentil et je vois que mon travail l’amuse car il vient le regarder souvent et m’encourage en me donnant de bons conseils. C’est un professeur excellent. Tout cela va si bien que je n’y crois pas.
So that takes care of two months: oblivion, amusement, happiness.
Voilà pour deux mois d’oubli, d’amusement, de bonheur.
After which I shall take a trip to Italy until the opening of the Salon: three and a half months of the good life, and it seems impossible to me, so good would it be.
Après quoi je vais faire un tour en Italie, jusqu’à l’ouverture du salon, trois mois et demi de bonne vie et cela me paraît impossible tant ce serait bon.
Marie Delsarte came to see me. I had asked her to give me lessons in perspective. What a worthy and interesting woman! She adores her sister and speaks of her so sweetly; she would like her to be happy, all the more because hers is a nature that could do with a little comfort. Instead of that, they work for their living and support their mother.
Marie Delsarte est venue me voir. Je l’avais priée de me donner des leçons de perspective. Quelle digne et intéressante femme ! Elle adore sa sœur et en parle si gentiment, elle la voudrait heureuse d’autant plus qu’elle a une nature qui aurait besoin d’un peu de bien-être. Au lieu de cela elles travaillent pour vivre et font vivre leur mère.
And it is terrible, for in their situation they do not dare go and ask for work, and sometimes they would have to! I have never met two girls so interesting, modest, distinguished and kind!
Et c’est terrible, car dans leur situation elles n’osent pas aller demander de l’ouvrage et il le faudrait quelquefois ! Je n’ai jamais rencontré deux jeunes filles aussi intéressantes, modestes, distinguées, gentilles !
Magdeleine Delsarte is the wife Julian ought to have; he would like it well enough, but there is Amélie, with her dyed hair fallen out in places, dishevelled, dirty, with her reddened eyes, her thick joints, her bony hands and her implacable love.
C’est Magdeleine Delsarte qu’il faudrait pour femme à Julian, lui le voudrait bien mais il y a là Amélie aux cheveux teints et tombés par endroits, échevelée, sale, aux yeux rougis, aux grosses attaches, aux mains osseuses et à l’amour implacable.