Diary of Marie Bashkirtseff
CZENUKFR

Wednesday, 2 March 1881

Monday evening at the Tunis ball in my Consulate costume — last year's. Very pretty. I caught a chill and am coughing. An evening out, and no carriage entrance or canopy! Unheard of. The Tchoumakoffs had dined with us and we went together. I stayed for three dances with unknown great awkward fellows. Home at half past eleven.
Ah, how dreary!
The Coluccis came, then Mme de Brimont. Alexis introduced his friend Dautoy — a great talent at the piano. Met at Mme Engelhardt's.
Maman and Dina had parties and balls and entertainments the whole time in Russia.
I decidedly have no luck.

Notes

Costume Consulat: an evening dress in the Consulate style (1799–1804), characterized by high waists, classical drapery, and thin fabrics — fashionable as fancy-dress in the early 1880s. ↩
Porte cochère and marquise: a carriage gateway through which vehicles could enter a courtyard, and a glass canopy over the entrance — essential features of any decent Parisian hôtel particulier hosting a ball. Their absence Marie considers a social failure. ↩