tendant whom I shall appoint to
accompany you. In order to accomplish the task which I have imposed
upon you, it will be necessary for you to go `round the world;' but I
add the further condition, that you are to go _only once round it_. In
_latitude_, I leave you free to range--from pole to pole, if it so
please you [this was a stretch of liberty at which both boys laughed];
but _longitudinally_, no. You must not cross the same meridian twice
before returning to Saint Petersburg. I do not intend this condition to
apply to such traverses as you may be compelled to make, while actually
engaged in the chase of a bear, or in tracking the animal to his den:
only when you are _en route_ upon your journey. You will take your
departure from Saint Petersburg, and go east or west, which you please.
From the conditions I have imposed upon you, I hope you will have skill
enough to discover that a route is traced out for you, and, that, on
starting, you _can_ follow it either eastward or westward. This, with
all matters relating to your means and mode of travelling, I leave to
your own choice; and I trust that the practical education you have
received will enable you to make your tour with proper judgment.
[`Tour, indeed!' exclaimed Ivan.] Once out of my palace, I take no
farther charge of you. You may be some years older before I see you
again; but I trust the time will not be mis-spent; and that upon your
return you may be able to give a proper account of yourselves, is the
earnest hope and wish of your affectionate father, Michael Grodonoff."

CHAPTER FOUR.

DISCUSSING THE CONDITIONS.

The two youths were no little astonished by the contents of this
singular epistle; but, for all that, the terms imposed did not seem to
them either harsh or unreasonable, and they were only too pleased to
accede to them. They partly guessed their father's motive. They knew
that he loved both of them with a true paternal love; but his affection
was not of that kind to pet and pamper them within the precincts of his
luxurious palace. He had a different idea of what would be beneficial
to their future interests. He believed in the education which is
acquired in the rude school of toil and travel, more than in the
book-lore of classic universities; and he was determined that they
should have a full measure of this sort of training. He had resolved
that they _should_ see the world; not according to the ordinary
understanding of this