To occupy our leisure now that we have finished our work on the garden, we have asked and obtained permission to cut down the dead trees in the park, so we go from place to place, followed by a guard which moves when we move. We are beginning to be quite skilful woodcutters. This will give us a supply of wood for next winter. _Friday, June 22nd._--As the Grand-Duchesses were losing all their hair as the result of their illness, their heads have been shaved. When they go out in the park they wear scarves arranged so as to conceal the fact. Just as I was going to take their photographs, at a sign from Olga Nicolaïevna they all suddenly removed their headdress. I protested, but they insisted, much amused at the idea of seeing themselves photographed like this, and looking forward to seeing the indignant surprise of their parents. Their good spirits reappear from time to time in spite of everything. It is their exuberant youth. _Sunday, June 24th._--The days follow one another, all alike, divided between lessons and walks. This morning the Czar told me of a rather amusing incident which has broken the monotony of our seclusion. He was reading aloud yesterday evening in the red hall to the Czarina and Grand-Duchesses. Suddenly, about eleven o’clock, a servant entered in a great state of agitation and announced that the Commandant requested an immediate interview with the Czar. The latter thought that something very serious must have happened at Petrograd--a great armed demonstration by the Bolsheviks against the Provisional Government was expected--and he gave orders for him to be shown in. The officer entered, accompanied by two non-commissioned officers. He explained that he had been summoned by a shot from a sentry, who, from the park, had noticed signals with red and green lights from the room in which the family were sitting. General amazement. What signals? What did it all mean? Great excitement on the part of the Czarina and Grand-Duchesses. The officer then gave orders for the curtains to be closely drawn--it was stiflingly hot--and was about to retire. At this moment one of the N.C.O.’s came forward and explained the mystery. The Grand-Duchess Anastasie Nicolaïevna was sitting on the window-ledge doing needlework. Each time she bent forward to pick up from the table the things she required for her work she was covering and uncovering in turn two lamps with green and red shades by which the Czar was reading. The officer retired in confusion. _Monday, July 2nd._--We have learned that an offensive has been launched in the direction of Tarnopol, and is being successfully developed.