The Standart

Every year we take a journey on Papa's yacht, the Standart, around the beautiful coast of Finland. My sisters and I share a cabin. It's like camping, I think, and it's fun to be all together like that. Alexei has his own cabin which Nagorny shares with him—Nagorny is a sailor who is Alexei's nurse. He carries him when necessary and protects him from harm. There's another nurse, Derevenko, who helps him, but Nagorny is the most devoted.

Here is Alyosha and Papa on the yacht:

Mama and Papa each have their own staterooms, and even my grandmama has her own room too. Sometimes she comes with us. But lately she and Papa haven't been getting along well. When they are alone I hear her voice raised, scolding Papa. She tells him he is not strong enough, that he is making the wrong decisions, and blames Mama for a lot of it. I don't understand what they're talking about, but I wish I did. I'll ask Tatiana, or Olga.

This is what the Standart looks like. Beautiful, isn't she?

Life on the Standart is fun. The sailors play with us and indulge us in everything—not just letting us rollerskate, but skating with us. I think it's like a holiday for them as well.