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"Blessings of the good god be on you, cousin," Iinto the carriage Epiny stood on the steps holding her father’s hand and waving to us as the foote door open for us I scarcely knehat to think of her, but decidedwoman on the jankboat had seemed so amused to find Epiny was my cousin I felt a belated blush over that
My uncle’s carriage was a on that had carried us the night before His crest, the "old crest" of leamed on the polished wood door There was a driver, attired in ray geldings with maroon touches on their harness and headstalls My father and I cliray upholstery There were little burgundy cushions with soft charcoal tassels in each corner of the seat andcurtains to match I had never been inside a conveyance so fine, and despite the fact that only ht
The driver cracked his whip to start the team, which made me leap in my seat My father allowed hi back "Don’t be so tense, son," he counseled ently as we set off "Show the alertness of a fine spirit, but do not make Colonel Stiet think the Burvelle family has sent him a nervous Nellie"
"Yes, sir," I replied, and forced e rolled thunderously over the cobbled streets of Old Thares At any other tihts outside the , but today they could scarcely hold my attention We first passed other fine houses with rounds, not very different froates, I had glimpses of tall oaks and fine lawns, pathways and statuary Then ound down into the merchants’ districts, and trees and open space were left behind Commercial establishments stood wall to wall, with residential quarters above them We stopped at the cobblermy feet and promised my new boots would be delivered to ht
Then ere on our way again It was now full ons ofapprentices crowded the streets, slowing the passage of our carriage In one busy street, a clanging bell warned us of a streetcar drawn by a stout teaant feathers and azed from its open s as they enjoyed the leisurely ride to their day’s errands Prosperity ruled in this part of town, and I suspected thatthe street did so only to show they had fine clothes and the leisure to display them
Gradually we left the heart of the town behind The streets grew narrower and the shops s first unkempt and then decrepit The coachh noisome streets past cheap taverns and houses where painted sluts lounged in the open s I saw a blind boy singing loudly on a corner, his begging pan at his feet On another corner, an itinerant priest preached loudly, exhorting the straying souls of these slums to turn their minds and hearts to the next world The coach passed them and his voice faded behind us Somewhere a bell tolled, and then another took up the sole prayer hour My father and I bowed our heads silently
Finally we turned onto the river road It ider and better kept, and yet there again ere forced to go more slowly, for traffic of every kind flowed into it I saagons full of logs freshly unloaded from the waterfront and loads of newly cut lus for sale fell in behind our carriage In our turn, we followed a coal-o, Father?" I asked when it see
"It’s a good drive When they decided to build a separate school for the Academy of Cavalla, they looked for a location that offered space for horsee and water That placed the Academy somewhat outside of Old Thares But that, too, we considered an advantage You young men will focus more on your studies if you are well away from the distractions and vices of the city"
It seemed a rebuke that he felt I must be kept away froainst theently and shook his head "I fear more for your companions than I do for you, Nevare For I do not knohat strength of character they bring with theht at ho and old When they are in groups, they are likelier to sink to the lowest acceptable behavior rather than rise to the highest possible standards And this is especially true if there is no strong leader holding hisa your peers, and it will become easy for you to believe that your ethics are, perhaps, provincial or outdated if the young ent So I caution you, beware of those whoyour friends Above all, be true to what you have been taught and to the honor of your family"