Tolstoy starts making boots, chopping wood and drawing his own water from the well, and spends more and more time with his disciple Chertkov. Arguments with Sofia become increasingly ugly, and he talks of leaving her to lead an ascetic life. Sofia, pregnant again, is beside herself with shame and misery. 18th June—Alexandra (Sasha) born. Soon afterwards, Sofia gains Tolstoy’s permission to borrow money to bring out new editions of his novels. Tolstoy finishes ‘What I Believe’, and all copies of the first edition are seized by the police at the printer’s.