The parents here. Father slightly better, Mother not very well. We went to see Father’s Drs, they say the operation is necessary.

Nothing special happened this week. We did a bit of “spring” cleaning. On Friday Magdi / Mi??? and husband came to see us. She is quite alright. I accompanied them to the East Station and promised to go to see them today. Yesterday again I met Leon. It is getting more than madness and we both resolved not to repeat the thing. He took me home. Luckily today I went to Magdi and passed the whole afternoon in the cemetery with her, so I had no chance of thinking of previous events. Just as well for me. I went to their home. Had a look at their workshop too. But we spent most of our time just walking + talking. Latter was done mostly by her, but was awfully thankful that she didn’t leave me one minute to think of anything else. I too, home a flower + a big bouquet.

We tried to make a little order as Martha was coming. She didn’t like our newly distempered wall at all. She was loud in anything but praise. The kid, little Ervin, looks off colour. Pale, fragile, too well bred. For the time. Too silent. Poor little thing. I wish I could do something for him. He seems unhappy. I didn’t like the thought of taking him to the Cemetery with us, but he wouldn’t be left behind. The walk was too much for him too.

The painter is here and with him an awful disorder. Leon rang me up when I was still in bed and rand off before I could get to the ‘phone. Later he rang me up however again. We arranged to meet in the afternoon but as he had his Frenchman on his hands I was to ring him up again before starting. I was prevented in dressing by Martha’s ‘phone call, she wanted to come in the afternoon, later Iren came just when I was ‘phoning Leon in vain. I managed to get him at last. We met and we both behaved entirely madly I’m afraid. I asked him some most inquisitive questions, which weren’t answered partly. I told him people talked strange things about him and he told me what those were. Tried to persuade me they were not true. Apparently they can’t be, though as I’m not an expert on the matter something might be wrong for all I know. He made love most fervently and I responded in much the same way. At the time it was natural and I meant the whole thing, but really it is most most ridiculous that I should be in such a fix, inocipled  in such a matter. – It was late when we asked for a taxi, he was too late for his appointment with the Frenchmen as it was. I went with him as far as his Hotel.

After a lot of ‘phoning with Leon on my part our meeting was off. He had a French friend coming. Really the man is the limit. Let me do all the talking. I was at the (empty space) in the evening. The ship was 30 minutes late and Maria was the latest in coming. Somehow she is smaller than I imagined her to be, last summer she looked taller. May be though that she has been simply putting on weight. As I didn’t see Ervin or Leon with the car I went on with the rest, but when already on the tram we saw Ervin signalling franetically to the greatest delight of Maria, so we got off. There was a little Swedish girl who seemed very friendly. We met the others at the hall of the Hotel and arranged to meet next afternoon.

This morning we went to the Office of Controlling Foreigners. It was funny. Maria had some difficulties as there were many and she was sent from one place to the other. At last I managed to persuade a man to hep us telling him that they spent only a couple of days here and didn’t want to spend so much in offices. He kindly sent us to another room, where again a great number of foreigners were waiting, a rude Austrian amongst them. We managed to get in front somehow though, and the officer was most obliging, so was the next and last too. Most part of the morning was spent like this however. I had lunch with them. The Swedish and Roumanian had to report too and apparently some of the others also as we met another couple. The Swedish was in some trouble as she came entirely without visa + was in for penalty. After lunch I took Maria home with me. We invited the Roumanian (Angela …) and the Swedish girl (Astrid …) to accompany us. Ervin was rather late, so we only managed a look round. We made a few snaps on the Gellért Hegy, but it was getting dark. After supper we fetched the girls again and went over to the Hármashatárhegy. The view was glorious, all the lights in the town twinkling, the Danube bridges lined by the lights. It was lovely, but cool. We had to go indoors. There was gipsy music but not an over excellent one. We had some fun with the girls though and we wrote some cards. Some together with Maria to common friends of ours. When it was getting dull we left the place and as Astrid wanted to see the Gipsy Childrens Band we went to the Ostende to hear them. They were quite good, much better than I would have thought them. I believe they all enjoyed it. Ervin got on very well with the girls, especially with the Roumanian who was the flirting sort. I liked them both. It was fairly late when we said good by to eachother. They all hated their “Führer P???” fervently and loudly as all of them meant to stay at least a day longer. As it was they are off for Munich tomorrow morning. I hoped they enjoyed their stay, but it was too short. I talked with Leon on the ‘phone and he promised to ring me up next day.

Fetched Maria from the Hotel, we went on the St. Margareth’s Island by bus and returned on foot. For the night we arranged to see János vitéz. Ervin took us there as it was already rather late. The open air stage was very nice, luckily the weather favourable, all the stars out but a bit on the coolish side. The performance very good, singers dresses, dances lovely. I tried to make her understand as much as possible. She seemed to enjoy it. Ervin was a bit late in fetching us, so we had to go on foot part of the way. We went to the “Cuckoo” afterwards for an espresso as some of Maria’s friend planned going there but they were not to be found. We took her back to the Hotel but the girls with whom she shared room were not in at the time, late though it was.

This afternoon I had a letter by airpost from Maria saying she would be coming tomorrow. We resolved to take definite steps towards spring-cleaning with Erzsi, in case she stays here if I invite her.

Last week passed uneventfully. On Saturday we had two letters from the Directory of Finances on account of the new taxes. What a lot of fuss they make, I felt quite flustered, tried to make things, or rather write things ready for them, but couldn’t finish in time. I cooked dinner a bit late for some reason. I do hope I’ll be able to manage alright. Yesterday Martha was here, we went to the cemetery later. The flowers are still on the grave. Yesterday I went to confession. I’m full of new resolutions again. This morning we had a latter from Mother + Father giving all sorts of interventions. Poor Mother writes she can’t find place + her heart is owe (?). Too bad of her not to take events with due resignation. I’ll try to write her commonsense. – I nearly forgot I resited (?) to have some weekly papers bonded so rang up my one time suitor on that account. Strangely enough he remembered me at once and was very nice. I didn’t tell him about Nora. If we talk again I’ll do perhaps.

The fireplace in the hall was remade today. What a mess it meant. I cooked the dinner and it was excellent except for the soup which was too salty but otherwise hadn’t much of a taste. Erzsi however, dared not say anything against it, I was so amused. Heaps of letters come daily, letters of sympathy on Nora’s account. I’m glad Mother isn’t here, we had visitors too, the Colonel’s wife from next door today. What an ordeal it would mean to her to have to relate everything afresh. By the time they return I hope things will be more settled and they’ll be strong and well again. This Mangl (?) should work wonders. (?) – I was alone this afternoon + sad, so I had a big meal with beer. Preposterous. It was a realism of my disappointment too, for I rang up Leon only to hear he is away. I was afraid my card might have fallen into the hand of someone else. Now really have I compromised myself. The man who answered the phone, most probably the driver asked for my name, I told him but he couldn’t catch it so I said it was of no importance, he said at that, that is was indeed as Mr I. told him to put down all names or addresses or ‘phone numbers of those who ‘phoned. I, obediently told my address. Really the influence of Leon, to obey even when away. I suppose it is to make up for disobeying when present. Anyway now at least he’ll have a proof of how I don’t wish to keep things dark and if I do anything anymore may know about it. – Martha ‘phoned today that Gyula is ill, they are short of money again also. too bad.-