Letter to Maria Alexandrovna Ulyanova, May 25, 1913

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May 25

Dear Maria Alexandrovna,

We received your letter today. I hasten to reply to it.

I am getting better now. The palpitation has become less violent. I am following the doctor’s advice and eating enough for three, guzzling milk and taking Robin’s thyroid medicine and, in genera], everything is fine. Volodya gets very worked up, people worry him a lot about Kocher. I am very glad that D. I. has written him a letter telling him that there is no need for an operation, etc., because people are talking all sorts of nonsense to him—that I may go blind, that I should lie motionless for eighteen months and so on. I have not got the disease in such an advanced stage and I shall recover in the summer.

Our real holiday is only just beginning. There was a terrible hurly-burly over the moving, and here at first we had to haggle. The people here have been spoiled by holiday-makers—they lie, swindle, etc. At first we were angry at this, but now everything is in its place. A girl comes to us; she cannot cook, but does all the household chores. Today the weather shows signs of changing; so far we have had a whole week of rain, but the place does not seem damp. This morning Volodya and I walked for about two hours, and now he has gone off alone to some indefinite point in space.

Every morning a fluffy black pup comes running to us from the neighbour’s and Volodya spends a lot of time playing with it. This is the real summer cottage routine.

There is only one family here with whom we are acquainted and they live a long way away, half an hour’s walk. But that does not prevent us from seeing each other, sometimes twice a day.

I am glad there are no crowds here. I do a minimum amount of work. I read mostly Polish novels, and not very enthusiastically at that.

It is very beautiful here. Fortunately you cannot do a lot of cycling, because Volodya used to abuse that amusement and overtire himself; it is better to walk more.

Mother sends regards. She is still feeling miserable— her sister with whom she was brought up and with whom she had maintained close relations all her life, died a fortnight ago. Mother even wanted to go to Novocherkassk when she heard of her sister’s illness, but she had no passport—it had been sent in for renewal.

Many kisses for Anya, and regards to all. Volodya will probably write himself. I embrace you fondly, my dear.

Yours,

Nadya

Mother dearest,

I embrace you fondly and send regards to all. Many thanks to Mitya for the letters. I am trying to persuade Nadya to go to Berne. She does not want to. She is now slightly better.

Yours,

V. U.