1/14 September 1914

I’m spitting mad. Not only is Mama training to be a nurse, but so are Olga and Tatiana. But not Mashka and me. No! We are too young!

Mashka is so good, always so sweet about everything, and she has tried to make me feel better about being left out. “At least it’s both of us, the Little Pair,” she said, and then suggested that maybe we could find other good work to do for the soldiers. She’s such an angel, I’m not sure we’re truly sisters.

Mama says indeed we can be of great help, we can visit the sick and injured. But – we will not get to wear uniforms, and I did so much want to!