Chapter 8: June 1st: My Beloved Makar Alexievitch

June 1st: My Beloved Makar Alexievitch June 1st. My beloved Makar Alexievitch—So eager am I to do something that will please and divert you in return for your care, for your ceaseless efforts on my behalf—in short, for your love for me—that I have decided to beguile a leisure hour for you by delving into my locker, and extracting thence the manuscript which I send you herewith. I began it during the happier period of my life, and have continued it at intervals since. So often have you …