Tuesday, 11 September 1883

I am at home at last!
My room at Jouy will be occupied by the Maréchale's mother, who is coming to spend six weeks there. But so that I may still come during her stay, they are arranging the two rooms occupied by Marcel, who leaves for Nancy on the 14th. God take him away. He will be the calamity of the family.
I have never seen a boy so rude to his mother, so stupid, so rowdy, so insolent. When he is not maiming a dog, he is making his brother bleed or bruising his sister. It is incredible.
And now it is a matter of working. And of trying not to suffer too much from not having exhibited at the Triennial Salon, which opens on Friday.