_Sunday, April 1st._--Alexis Nicolaïevitch feeling much better. We went to church this morning, where we found Their Majesties, the Grand-Duchesses Olga and Tatiana, and the various members of the suite who are sharing our captivity. When the priest prayed for the success of the Russian and Allied armies the Czar and Czarina knelt down, the whole congregation following their example.
A few days ago, as I was leaving Alexis Nicolaïevitch’s room, I met ten soldiers wandering about in the passage. I went up to them and asked what they wanted.
“I don’t know; but come, don’t hang about here. There must be no noise because of the invalids!”
They went back, walking on their toes and talking in low voices. These are the soldiers depicted to us as wild revolutionaries hating their ex-Czar.
_Tuesday, April 3rd._--To-day Kerenski came to the palace for the first time. He went through all the rooms and noted all the sentry-posts, wishing to assure himself in person that we are well guarded. Before leaving he had a fairly long conversation with the Czar and Czarina.
_Wednesday, April 4th._--Alexis Nicolaïevitch related to me yesterday’s conversation between Kerensky and the Czar and Czarina.
The whole family was collected in the apartment of the Grand-Duchesses. Kerensky entered and introduced himself, saying:
Then he shook hands all round. Turning to the Czarina, he said:
“The Queen of England asks for news of the ex-Czarina.”
Her Majesty blushed violently. It was the first time that she had been addressed as ex-Czarina. She
[Illustration: THE CZAR, HIS CHILDREN AND THEIR COMPANIONS IN CAPTIVITY CONVERTING THE LAWNS OF THE PARK INTO A KITCHEN-GARDEN. MAY, 1917.
Near to the wooden hut, the Czarina in white, with a parasol, and two of the Grand-Duchesses. In the centre, to the right, the Czar Nicholas II. The Alexander Palace in the background.
answered that she was fairly well, but that her heart was troubling her as usual. Kerensky went on:
“Anything I begin I always carry through to the bitter end, with all my might. I wanted to see everything myself, to verify everything so as to be able to report at Petrograd, and it will be better for you.”
He then asked the Czar to go with him into the next room as he wished to speak to him in private. He went in first and the Czar followed.