20–26 April 1857

Got up early, baths. Read La Dame aux Perles. Talented, but the ground on which the author works is horrible — depravity. Balzac is only the flower of which he is the fruit. Church. Felt cheerful. Began writing The Fugitive , it went well but I was lazy. Dined at home. Went out in a boat, continued reading and pack- ing, so that all day I have done nothing towards educating myself and doing good, and have missed three oppor- tunities of doing good already. Krudener, Sommeillert and Levina.

jGot up at five, baths, arranged my affairs and caught the steamboat. Bad weather. Did not notice how the time passed with dear Tolst&ya. Muddle. Dinner at Prishchin’s. Karamzina is good. A disputa- tious conservative. . . . Tired, think I’ve caught a slight cold. Am going to bed at ten. Have done nothing.

Got up at eight. Wrote a little of The Cossack . There was a general bustle, everybody started for the Rigi. Very pleasant, carelessly gay. I returned at eight and went to the Meshcherskis’. Nice people. Did nothing, but it was very very pleasant ; there is a breeze of kindliness. L. Karamzina especially is splendid.

Got up at ten, went to Vevey to the Buk- harins’, they are most piteous. We dined at home, had some music ; dear old Pushchina brimmed over. Went to Chillon, drank tea in a cosy salon, had music, even “ God save the Tsar ”. I did not go out, and will get to bed earlier.

Tolstdya has gone away in spite of the horrid weather. Though I felt ashamed of it, I did not go to see her off. Dined badly at Vevey. L. Karamzina is good, but a drilled and therefore a difficult person. Drank tea with the priest at Pushchin’s. The evening ^t Karamzina’s. The Meshcherskis are dull envenomed conservatives, assured of their own goodness.

Got up at ten. Did nothing. Went to the baths. Did not feel well : a rash over my whole body. Fell asleep. In the evening went to Karamzina’s. Wrote a page, am going to bed.

Not well. Wrote a little of The Cossack . Received letters from Nekrasov, Turgenev, and A. Tolst&ya. Read the history of the Revolution. Pride. “ In the beginning was the Word.” In the evening Pdshchin sat with me and bragged for all he was worth.