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Saturday, 11 March 1882

Paul and his wife have left; we all went as far as Monaco, Savine too — he has become one of the family; besides, he is the nephew of M. Meineux, Papa's brother-in-law. Poor Paul — if only I were sure that he is content with his lot...

Paul et sa femme sont partis, nous sommes tous alles jusqu'a Monaco, Savine aussi, il est devenu de la famille, du reste il est le neveu de M. Meineux beau-frere de papa. Pauvre Paul, si encore j'etais sure qu'il est content de son sort...

She is not pretty — that is to say, very pretty in profile and when she is silent, but otherwise... I have never seen a young woman so careless of her person: always dishevelled, with her lank black strands over her forehead, dirty fingernails very often, torn and dirty lace, candle-wax stains, and even the clothes themselves... In short, she is slovenly; she always whines — and with it all the firm conviction that she is beautiful, elegant, and ravishing, and that Poltava is the most fashionable place on earth. [Still the deplorable provincial,] I would rather see her still more stupid but less confident, and desirous of adopting the good manners she sees — but not at all.

Elle n'est ni jolie, c'est-a-dire tres jolie de profil et se taisant, mais autrement...

It is above all these eternal sighs — and if only there were something to sigh about; but truly everyone is perfect to her in a family she entered by force; everyone is as kind as possible; she has a husband she says she loves, a child, a fortune... and despite all this, sighs... Lately it has been impatience to see the baby they left at six weeks old to go travelling. And at Gavronzi, why these melancholies? Because I no longer saw my father, my sister... Now I know what to make of the imaginary affections she has for her father...

C'est surtout ces soupirs eternels, si encore il y avait de quoi soupirer mais vraiment tout le monde est parfait pour elle, dans une famille ou elle est entree de force, tout le monde est aussi gentil que possible, elle a un mari qu'elle dit qu'elle aime, un enfant, de la fortune... et malgre cela des soupirs... Ce dernier temps c'etait l'impatience de revoir le bebe qu'ils ont laisse age de six semaines pour aller voyager. Et a Gavronzi pourquoi ces tristesses ? Mais parce que je ne voyais plus mon pere, ma soeur... Or je vois a quoi m'en tenir sur les tendresses imaginaires de son papa...

In short, she is a regrettable type but a kind woman... Yes, she is very kind — patient and gentle — and... four months along again, while the baby is only five months old: that is hurrying.

Enfin c'est un type regrettable mais bonne femme... Oui, elle est tres bonne, c'est-a-dire oui patiente et douce et... de quatre mois de nouveau, le bebe n'en a que cinq, c'est se presser.

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