Original: '' The eldest , Olga Nicolaevna , possessed a remarkably quick brain '' , recalled her French tutor , Pierre Gilliard . '' She had good reasoning powers as well as initiative , a very independent manner , and a gift for swift and entertaining repartee . ''
Simplified: Pierre Gilliard said that Olga had a very '' quick brain '' , with '' good reasoning powers '' and '' a very independent manner , and a gift for swift ( quick ) and entertaining ( funny ) repartee ( replies ) . ''