The Haunting of Falcon House by Eugene Yelchin

Author:Eugene Yelchin
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781627796606
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

In which Vanyousha interrupts Prince Lev’s studies

If I had known that I had to go to a boarding school to learn how to rule Falcon House, I might not have left my mother’s side. The truth is, I had never attended school before, since Mother herself had taught me at home. At the boarding school they would have much harsher teachers than Mother, and besides, I would have to sleep in a dorm. It would not be any worse, of course, than sleeping in my grandfather’s chamber. At least there would be other boys around—noblemen like me, not just silly servants like Vanyousha. But what if I got sick? Petersburg was so cold, I could easily catch an infection. They would probably let Mother know, but would they let her take care of me in the dorm?

My father hadn’t gone to the boarding school, and he had amounted to nothing. He was too soft, said Olga Lvovna. I wondered what she meant by that. Regardless, I had little choice in the matter if I wanted to follow in the steps of my role model. Grandfather had passed his tests with flying colors, gone on to have a brilliant career, and been well received at court. Wouldn’t that be marvelous, to be well received at court? To see our emperor the Tsar in real life, instead of in the picture I copied into my drawing album? Vanyousha said that he had seen the Tsar. Vanyousha was a liar. But what is shameful in a servant is more shameful in a master. Was I not a liar, too, by telling him that I’d be joining the army soon in the rank of a general? Why did I say that? Why was I even wasting my time with Vanyousha? My aunt is right. I won’t become the master of this house by sliding down banisters!

A stack of old, dusty books was waiting outside my chamber’s door. I brought them in and spread the books upon the desk: French and Russian, Arithmetic and Divine Law, all the subjects Olga Lvovna said I would be tested on.

I hesitated, deciding which book to open first. Not that it mattered; it shouldn’t be too hard for me to pass what was required. French I didn’t need to study; I already knew it. Of course, En garde! Prêts? Allez! were the only words I knew, but they were the most important words in French—you couldn’t start fencing without saying them. I didn’t have to bother with the Russian grammar, either. Russian is my mother tongue, and besides, I write in cursive neatly. Well, almost neatly. As for Arithmetic … true, numbers had always troubled me a little. But I could draw them well—zeroes in particular. Divine Law was the thickest book of all and likely the most boring. I didn’t even want to open it. But as I sat, gazing at the cover of the book—a golden cross stamped into black leather—I came to understand that Divine Law was the book I needed most.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.