18–24 June 1855

In the morning finished A Cadet's Tale, wrote a letter and sent it off. After dinner idled and read Pendennis . Did not go to drill In the evening wrote a brief project. On May 10 I received a letter from Vasili Perfllev through Vr^vski, who certainly wants to make my acquaintance. Was idle after dinner and did not revise the conversation in A Cadet's Tale , whicH I should have done. Three.

In the morning I was occupied with Kryz- handvski’s paper about the receipts and the stores. Did nothing but read. After dinner wrote a little of May jo, but very little. Was rather idle — one, . . . — two, un- methodical in despatching the papers — three, disorderly in that I had supper when I did not intend to — four.

Got up late, read, attended to business, and wrote a little of May 10. After dinner was terribly, unpardonably, idle. Read Pendennis all the time. My health is worse Was idle — one, did not carry out my intentions — lack of character — two.

Got up late, read, wrote a letter to Masha. After dinner was idle, but on the other hand after tea wrote much and with pleasure. My health is better Got angry about my pencil — one, and was rather idle after dinner — two

Just fancy ! I have nothing to reproach myself with for the whole day. Wrote much of May 10, and a letter to Tati&na Alexandrovna. After dinner idled a little, but that was a trifle.

Wrote all day. Finished the rough draft, and in the evening made a fair copy of one sheet. Boasted terribly before Stotypin — one Did not stick to my decision, did not write a letter — two. But there was an excuse for that. Observations. Occupations. Revise the whole of the Spring Night from the point of view of the censor, and make alterations and variations.

In writing adopt the rule of drawing up a programme, making a rough draft and a fair copy — Subsequently called Sevastopol tn May. Sevastopol in May. without finally polishing each period. One judges in- correctly and unfavourably, if one re-reads often. The charm and interest of novelty and of the unexpected vanishes, and one often strikes out what is good but seems bad from frequent repetition. The chief thing is that this piethod adds zaal to the work. Worked all day and cannot reproach myself with anything. Hurrah !