14–20 September 1857

Hastened to buy a lot of hacks, and with the help of a middleman bought them. Polik^y and Z. turned up. Bought draught horses.

Bought at higher prices. Am well ; much that is interesting. Jews in the evening ! Hastened to write and wrote four sheets, hot ones. Left, and drove the horses myself. Small freeholders. The horses are a torment to me. . . .

Rode out with the dogs ; my horse broke down. Drove the remaining half - way in the tarantds. Reached Pirogovo at nine. Mashenka is nice.

Romped with the children. Thrashing was begun. Wrote nothing. Received a most charming letter from A. Tolstaya. The land has not been bought. I could not free myself from regret at having bought the horses. Felt inclined to write.

Wrote a good deal but the whole thing is bad. Want to get rid of it as quickly as possible.

Returned to Yasnaya. Affairs are going well. Wrote nothing. . . .

Worked well. Did nothing else. Stopped at a difficult place. Arranged about the store- room.