don’t think she said a word about the awful thing that happened to Father Grigory, because she doesn’t like him at all. I can tell by the way she twists her mouth whenever he’s mentioned. This is another reason why Mama and Grandmother aren’t fond of each other.
20 June/3 July 1914
This morning on our hike with Papa, I collected a whole pocketful of pretty rocks from the beach and brought them back for Mama. They seemed to cheer her up a little. After lunch Papa went to his study (he works two days a week when we’re on our cruise), and my sisters and I roller-skated on the deck. I can skate faster than Mashka, who’s always afraid she’s going to crash into something. I never think about crashing.
23 June/6 July 1914
A thunderstorm broke this afternoon, and the sea was wild and churning. We stayed in the lounge, where Mama played the piano for us while spray lashed the windows. The music she always plays is sad, and when I begged her to play something cheerful, she just looked at me and said, “But, my darling, life is sad.”
I know that she was thinking of Father Grigory. We pray for him every morning, and at night, too.
26 June/9 July 1914
Papa seems determined not to let his worries spoil our yachting holiday. Today we went ashore to hunt mushrooms. (Mashka stayed with Mama.) Papa built a little fire and pulled out a pan and some butter from the pack he carries. He cooked the mushrooms, and we ate them with bread.
Later I got in trouble with Tatiana. Olga went off by herself to read, and Papa went for a swim. He left his cigarettes on the beach. I took one and lit it and was holding it between my fingers the way Papa does and only pretending to smoke it. Suddenly Tatiana leaped out of the bushes and threatened to tell Mama. I tried to explain that I was playacting.
Tatiana said it looked an awful lot as though I had actually been smoking, and I reminded her that I had seen her holding hands with the redhaired officer and it looked an awful lot as though she had kissed him. So I don’t think she’ll tell Mama, but, anyway, I’m not touching Papa’s cigarettes ever again .
30 June/13 July 1914
Today was so fine that we persuaded Mama to come ashore with us for a picnic. Tatiana’s redhaired officer carried Mama and helped her get settled on a rug. Then he spent most of his time gazing cow-eyed at Tatiana, and Mama had to ask him twice to bring her parasol.
No mention of cigarettes or smoking.
This evening we’re having a dance. I wish Mama would allow me to wear my hair up, but I know she won’t.
3/16 July 1914
Last night was so much fun! The balalaika orchestra played for dancing, and we all got to choose our partners. Olga, who didn’t even want to dance and said she’d stay in her cabin and read, ended up coming to the dance after all. And she chose the redheaded officer as her first partner! Naturally Tatiana couldn’t say a word and had to ask someone else. I could hardly keep from laughing.
I picked Papa. He says I dance very enthusiastically.
6/19 July 1914
Peterhof
Today our cruise ended, and we’re back at the farm. Mama and Anya are in a better mood because Mama has a letter from Father Grigory. He’s in his village in Siberia recovering from his wounds, but he writes that he’s feeling strong again.
Not everyone is happy. Olga is glum, and Tatiana was sorry to see her officer sail away. Actually he hasn’t gone far, because we’ll continue to take short cruises.
I searched everywhere I could think of for her diary, to see if she wrote anything about kissing him, but the dratted girl has hidden it very well. I still think she kissed him.
15/28 July 1914
More news that has everyone worried. The Austrians have attacked Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, to get even with the Serbians for what happened to the archduke. Papa spends lots of time in meetings with his advisers, trying to decide what to do. The Serbians are our allies, and we have promised to help them if
20 June/3 July 1914
This morning on our hike with Papa, I collected a whole pocketful of pretty rocks from the beach and brought them back for Mama. They seemed to cheer her up a little. After lunch Papa went to his study (he works two days a week when we’re on our cruise), and my sisters and I roller-skated on the deck. I can skate faster than Mashka, who’s always afraid she’s going to crash into something. I never think about crashing.
23 June/6 July 1914
A thunderstorm broke this afternoon, and the sea was wild and churning. We stayed in the lounge, where Mama played the piano for us while spray lashed the windows. The music she always plays is sad, and when I begged her to play something cheerful, she just looked at me and said, “But, my darling, life is sad.”
I know that she was thinking of Father Grigory. We pray for him every morning, and at night, too.
26 June/9 July 1914
Papa seems determined not to let his worries spoil our yachting holiday. Today we went ashore to hunt mushrooms. (Mashka stayed with Mama.) Papa built a little fire and pulled out a pan and some butter from the pack he carries. He cooked the mushrooms, and we ate them with bread.
Later I got in trouble with Tatiana. Olga went off by herself to read, and Papa went for a swim. He left his cigarettes on the beach. I took one and lit it and was holding it between my fingers the way Papa does and only pretending to smoke it. Suddenly Tatiana leaped out of the bushes and threatened to tell Mama. I tried to explain that I was playacting.
Tatiana said it looked an awful lot as though I had actually been smoking, and I reminded her that I had seen her holding hands with the redhaired officer and it looked an awful lot as though she had kissed him. So I don’t think she’ll tell Mama, but, anyway, I’m not touching Papa’s cigarettes ever again .
30 June/13 July 1914
Today was so fine that we persuaded Mama to come ashore with us for a picnic. Tatiana’s redhaired officer carried Mama and helped her get settled on a rug. Then he spent most of his time gazing cow-eyed at Tatiana, and Mama had to ask him twice to bring her parasol.
No mention of cigarettes or smoking.
This evening we’re having a dance. I wish Mama would allow me to wear my hair up, but I know she won’t.
3/16 July 1914
Last night was so much fun! The balalaika orchestra played for dancing, and we all got to choose our partners. Olga, who didn’t even want to dance and said she’d stay in her cabin and read, ended up coming to the dance after all. And she chose the redheaded officer as her first partner! Naturally Tatiana couldn’t say a word and had to ask someone else. I could hardly keep from laughing.
I picked Papa. He says I dance very enthusiastically.
6/19 July 1914
Peterhof
Today our cruise ended, and we’re back at the farm. Mama and Anya are in a better mood because Mama has a letter from Father Grigory. He’s in his village in Siberia recovering from his wounds, but he writes that he’s feeling strong again.
Not everyone is happy. Olga is glum, and Tatiana was sorry to see her officer sail away. Actually he hasn’t gone far, because we’ll continue to take short cruises.
I searched everywhere I could think of for her diary, to see if she wrote anything about kissing him, but the dratted girl has hidden it very well. I still think she kissed him.
15/28 July 1914
More news that has everyone worried. The Austrians have attacked Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, to get even with the Serbians for what happened to the archduke. Papa spends lots of time in meetings with his advisers, trying to decide what to do. The Serbians are our allies, and we have promised to help them if
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