7–13 September 1857

Rose at six. Went to the thrashing* floor. Wrote a little of The Demented. A’fter dinner rode out with the dogs and let a hare escape shamefully. Gave orders about Gertsdvka. In the evening Brand cam^-jyid bored me to death.

(Sunday.) Called* the peasants to- gether. Ufan is 55.* They all looked at me with fear, yet they are good-natured. Makarychev told about his brother’s stealing and perjury. I dined alone. Rode out. Gfmbut is swindling. Wrote a little and felt inclined to write. Sent Kolbasin my reply. Read G6gors letters which I had received. He was simply a good-for-nothing. Terribly good-for-nothing.

Had scarcely time to give a few orders before going to Tula. Called in on Gfmbut. . . . Things are not as monstrous in the law-court as I imagined. I. I. considers me a pitiable fool. Went to the Trbitski *?aths and am now anxious. Went round to Sudakovo. iThey invite me to come every day as if nothing had happened ; she is all right. But that is only relative : I shan’t go there. Returned home late and with a headache. In the night sick headache, had eaten too much, and now

It has not passed. Estate business. Wr«te The Demented easily. The purchase does not come off. Gfmbut came. Unbearable.

At nine dragged the children out for a walk. Wrote my Diary and a letter to Serezha. Mashenka came out and I was cross with her, but she is kinder and better tjian Mftenka was with his softness. If only I could have an influence on her. Went in a tarantas to Shchelkunovka, and from there on horseback. Snowing. In spite of*it I was twice overcome by such a joyful feeling that I thanked God. The change in estate management consists in the fact that the peasants are working on quit- rent ; my chief items of income are — the woods, and the me^lojvs for feeding the horses.

Found no foxes at Lopukhovka but hunted down three hares. Came to Efremov in the evening. Ten rubles for a room. Did nothing.