always wrote the best compositions; Frau
Doktor M. used often to praise them and to speak of her excellent style,
but later she really did not like her at all. She often told her she
ought not to be so affected, or she would lose the power of expression
from sheer affectation. I shall not write to her immediately, but only
after a few days, and, as I said, with _great_ reserve.

July 23rd. I got to know the two girls to-day, their names are Olga and
Nelly, one is 15 and the other 13; I don't know their surname yet, but
only that they have a leather goods business in Mariahilferstr. Their
mother's hair is quite grey already, their father is not coming
until August 8th. We have arranged to go for a walk at 4 o'clock this
afternoon, to Brennfelden.

July 26th. I have made up my mind to write every day before dinner,
for after dinner we all go with our hammocks into the wood. After all
I wrote to Anneliese three days ago, without waiting, so as not to
keep her on tenterhooks. I have not written anything to Hella about it
because I don't know how Anneliese will answer. Hella says she is having
a royal time in Innichen; but the tiresome thing does not say just
what she means by royal; she wrote only a bare 3 sides including the
signature so of course I did not write to her as much as usual.

July 27th. Dora is not very much taken with the Weiners; she thinks they
are frightfully stuck up. She says it's not the proper thing to wear
gold bracelets and chains in the country, above all with peasant
costume. Of course she is right, but still I like the two girls very
much, and especially Olga, the younger one; Nelly puts on such airs;
they go to a high school too, the Hietzinger High School; but Olga has
only just got into the Second while Nelly is in the Fifth. Dora says
they will never set the Danube on fire. No matter, leave it to others to
do that. We enjoyed ourselves immensely on our walk. I'm going to spend
the whole day with them to-day. Father says: "Don't see too much of
them; you'll only get tired of them too soon." I don't believe that will
happen with the Weiners.

July 29th. It's my birthday to-morrow. I wonder what my presents will
be. I've already had one of them before we left Vienna, 3 pairs of
openwork stockings, Aunt Dora gave them to me, exquisitely fine, and my
feet look so elegant in them. But I must take frightful care of them and
not wear them too often. Aunt says: "Perhaps now you will learn to give
u