23 November/6 December 1916

Papa is home, and as a special treat he and Mama are attending the ballet in Petrograd. My sisters and I are going, and Anya, too! We’re very excited, for since the war began we haven’t attended any balls or parties or done anything at all exciting.

Alexei isn’t going. He can’t walk well just now, and it would cause too much gossip if the tsarevitch had to be carried by one of the sailors. I’m a little afraid that at the last moment Mama and Papa will decide that none of us should go, because that would cause less attention than if only the tsarevitch is missing.