- Nabokov begins this chapter by saying that he's going to show a few slides: think a PowerPoint or slide show in the old family vacation tradition, only it's about his education. (Hot tip: he uses the term "magic lantern" here, but what he basically means is "slide projector.")
- First he wants to give us the where and when of things: as children, he and his brother Sergey had English and French governesses, which were later replaced by local Russian-speaking graduate students who tutored them both starting in 1906.
- In looking back, Nabokov notices, it seems like each tutor represented a different part of life in Russia at the time. It seems like maybe it was on purpose—after all, his father was known for his smarts and strategy—but then again, maybe not.
- Earlier, in 1905, Vladimir has had a series of visits with a local schoolmaster to learn Russian spelling. The schoolmaster isn't really part of the Russian tutor posse, but they kept in touch during these years.
- In 1915, Vladimir and his brother and father will visit the schoolmaster for tea, and though the spread is weird and meager, his father sends away a basket from Vladimir's well-meaning grandmother. She's at Batovo (one of the other family estates near Vyra, remember) and only wants to make sure they have everything they need.
- She's a bit of a snob, as it turns out, and never quite gets over Vladimir's father choosing service of the people over service of the Tsar.