a has been ill, that is really since, she went
away, I spend most of my time with Fritzi Hubner. She's awfully nice,
though I did not know it last year. Till Hella comes back she and I sit
together. For it's horrid to sit alone on a bench Fritzi knows a good
deal already. She would not talk about it at first because it so often
leads to trouble. Her brother has told her everything. He's rather a
swell and is called Paul.

January 29th. Yesterday was the ice carnival and Dora and I were allowed
to go. I skated with Fritzi and Paul most of the time and won 2 prizes,
one of them with Paul. And one of them skating in a race with 5 other
girls. Paul is awfully clever, he says he's going into the army, the
flying corps. That's even more select than being on the general staff.
Her father is a major and he, I mean Paul, ought to have gone to the
military academy, but his grandfather would not allow it. He is to
choose for himself. But of course he will become an officer. Most boys
want to be what their father is. But Oswald is perhaps going into the
Navy. I wish I knew what Father meant once when he said to Mother: Good
God, I'm not doing it on my own account. I'm only doing it because of
Oswald. The two girls won't get much out of it.

February 3rd. I've just been reading what I wrote about Father. I am
wondering what it can be. I think that Father either wants to win the
great prize in the lottery or is perhaps going to buy a house. But Dora
and I would get something out of that, for it would not belong to Oswald
only.

February 4th. Yesterday I asked Mother about it. But she said she didn't
know; if it was anything which concerned us, Father would tell us.
But it must be something, or Mother would not have told Father in the
evening that I had asked. I can't endure these secrets. Why shouldn't
we know that Father's going to buy a house. Fritzi's grandfather has a
house in Brunn and another in Iglau. But Fritzi is very simply dressed
and her mother too.

February 9th. Thank goodness Hella is coming back to-morrow, just before
her birthday. Luckily she can eat everything again so I am giving her a
huge bag of Viktor Schmid's sweets with a silver sugar tongs. Mother and
I are going to meet Hella at the station. They are coming by the 8.20.

February 10th. I am so glad Hella is coming to-day. I nearly could not
meet her because Mother is not very well to-day. But Father's going to
take me. Fritzi wanted to come and see Hell