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Karlsbad
July 24, 1912
My dear Son-in-law
You are right in assuming that our common interest in making our little Sophie happy will soon bring us close. But apart from
this I hope you may soon discover that we will both serve as quite useful parent substitutes, and that we will grow fond of you for your own sake. At our first meeting we were all quite naturally somewhat inhibited. But when we meet again on the Lago di Carezza1 we shall have outgrown this stage. We cannot as yet fix the exact date; it has been suggested from Lovrana2 that you shouldn't come to Bolzano, so as to avoid having to make the acquaintance of your new relatives when you are tired after the journey, feel grumpy, or are suffering from migraine. This would postpone everything by one day. But you can fight this out for yourself and make all necessary arrangements with the others on the Adriatic.
Sophie has continued her tactics toward us for some little while. Nothing we have written to her has seemed detailed or loving enough for her. I trust that by now she is pacified and is helping you to count the days. It is very strange to watch one's little daughter suddenly turn into a loving woman.
In the meantime we have been busy spreading the news privately. As a result at least two people have divulged their intention of cunningly having their portraits taken by you in order to make your acquaintance. I am not allowed to tell you who they are, so be on your guard!
I hope you have handed on our greetings to your mother and our other relatives, and for myself express the wish that you are in good health so that we can make a show of our son-in-law and son in front of the others.
With warm affection
Your old future father-in-law
Freud
In the Dolomites.
Resort on the Adriatic where Sophie stayed with her aunt Minna.