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Budapest, August 8, 1912
VII., Erzsébet-körút 54
Dear Professor,
I could have reported in my last letter (August 7)1 about the events that I want to share with you now, but only in the form of a postscript. The fact that I didn't do it may spring from an ucs. tendency which would like to undo them.—I have given up Elma's analysis and in so doing severed the last thread of the connection between us.—
I wrote to you that she was absent for a few (—three—) days; she was with acquaintances at the Plattensee and felt very well, unpressured, and healthy there, and, as she was reporting to me about this, it became quite clear to me that she is subjecting herself to analysis against her will, solely because of her hoped-for and impatiently anticipated marriage, and her tendency is to withhold from analysis everything that might impede this plan. I explained that to her, and she admitted everything and pressed for a decision. I relied on a basic rule of ΨA. and had no other choice but to explain to her that under these circumstances, analysis was pointless. At the same time I made it comprehensible to her that the affective relations between doctor and patient usually fall victim to the analysis, so that the prospects for a marital union between us were minimal, even in the event that the analysis should continue. I told her at the same time that, if she comes to me as a patient, I will always gladly be at her disposal.—
I did this with somnambulistic certainty, paying no heed to the painful uproar inside me.
Elma was in despair; I accompanied her home and handed her over to her mother. Since then I haven't seen her; yesterday I heard from Frau G. that she had not yet recovered and is affirming her unchanged predilection for me. In the winter she wants to go away from Budapest and does not want to take the planned trip to Venice-Lido with her mother.