Chapter 4: April 9th: My Dearest Makar Alexievitch

April 9th: My Dearest Makar Alexievitch April 9th. My dearest Makar Alexievitch—Are not you, my friend and benefactor, just a little ashamed to repine and give way to such despondency? And surely you are not offended with me? Ah! Though often thoughtless in my speech, I never should have imagined that you would take my words as a jest at your expense. Rest assured that never should I make sport of your years or of your character. Only my own levity is at fault; still more, the fact that …