' What else could I have got for the poor old man? I
had no trunks with me. I had to leave behind a spare pair of shoes
in the hotel to make room in my little bag for that snuff. And
fancy! That old priest absolutely pushed the parcel away. I could
have thrown it at his head; but I thought suddenly of that hard,
prayerful life, knowing nothing of any ease or pleasure in the
world, absolutely nothing but a pinch of snuff now and then. I
remembered how wretched he used to be when he lacked a copper or
two to get some snuff with. My face was hot with indignation, but
before I could fly out at him I remembered how simple he was. So I
said with great dignity that as the present came from the King and
as he wouldn't receive it from my hand there was nothing else for
me to do but to throw it into the brook; and I made as if I were
going to do it, too. He shouted: 'Stay, unhappy girl! Is it
really from His Majesty, whom God preserve?' I said
contemptuously, 'Of course.' He looked at me with great pity in
his eyes, sighed deeply, and took the little tin from my hand. I
suppose he imagined me in my abandoned way wheedling the necessary
cash out of the King for the purchase of that snuff.
Pages:
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165