_Tuesday, July 3rd._--A _Te Deum_ for the military successes which seem to presage a great victory. The Czar, radiant, brought Alexis Nicolaïevitch the evening paper and read him the _communiqués_. _Thursday, July 12th._--The news from the front is not good. The offensive which had begun so well is turning against the Russians. _Sunday, July 15th._--Nothing new in our captivity. The only distraction is going out. It is very hot, and for some days Alexis Nicolaïevitch has been bathing in the pond round the children’s island. It is a great joy to him. _Wednesday, July 25th._--The check is becoming more and more serious, the retreat deeper. The Czar is greatly affected. _Thursday, August 9th._--I learn that the Provisional Government has decided on the transfer of the Imperial family. The destination is kept secret; we are all hoping it will be the Crimea. _Saturday, August 11th._--We have been told that we must provide ourselves with warm clothing. So we are not to be taken south. A great disappointment. _Sunday, August 12th._ (July 30th O.S.).--Alexis Nicolaïevitch’s birthday (he is thirteen). At the request of the Czarina, the miraculous ikon of the Holy Virgin has been brought from the church of Znamenia. Our departure is fixed for to-morrow. Colonel Kobylinsky has confided to me as a great secret that we are to be transferred to Tobolsk. _Monday, August 13th._--We were told to be ready by midnight; the train was ordered for one o’clock. Final preparations. Farewell visit to the children’s island, kitchen garden, etc. Shortly before one in the morning everyone collected in the semi-circular hall, which was full of luggage. The Grand-Duke Michael arrived with Kerensky and had an interview with the Czar, who was delighted to see his brother again before his departure. The train which was to take us had not yet arrived; there appears to have been some difficulty with the railway men in Petrograd, who suspected that city to be the destination of the Imperial family. The hours passed in waiting, which grew more and more trying. Should we be able to start? It began to seem doubtful. (This incident showed up the powerlessness of the Government.) At last, about five o’clock, we were told that all was ready. We took leave of those of our fellow-captives who could not leave with us.[61] Our hearts were wrung at the thought of leaving Tsarskoïe-Selo, [Illustration: THE GRAND-DUCHESSES TATIANA AND ANASTASIE TAKING A WATER-BUTT TO THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. JUNE, 1917.] [Illustration: THE IMPERIAL FAMILY’S SUITE AT TSARSKOÏE-SELO IN THE SUMMER OF 1917. From left to right, behind Countess Benckendorff, seated: Prince Dolgorouky, the author, Countess Hendrikof, Baroness de Buxhœveden, Mlle. Schneider, Count Benckendorff, and Dr. Derevenko. {_Facing page 234._]