“Yes,” she said with great gravity, while she swept her hand, across the slate and erased all the figures. “Yes I know, and I 'll not permit it.”
“But what, in Heaven's name, is trotting through your head, Catinka? You have not the vaguest idea of what those signs meant.”
“Yes,” she said, even more solemnly than before. “I know it all. You mean to steal away my heart in spite of me, and you are going to do it with a charm.”
“And what success shall I have, Catinka?”
“Oh, do not ask me,” said she, in a tone of touching misery. “I feel it very sore here.” And she pressed her hand to her side. “Ah me,” sighed she, “if there were only pearls!”
The ecstasy her first few words gave me was terribly routed by this vile conclusion, and I started abruptly, and in an angry voice, said, “Let us go on; Vaterchen will fear we are lost.”
“And all this gold; what shall I do with it?” cried she.
“What you will. Throw it into the well if you like,” said I, angrily; for in good sooth I was out of temper with her and myself and all mankind.
“Nay,” said she, mildly, “it is yours; but I will carry it for you if it weary you.”
I might have felt rebuked by the submissive gentleness of her words; indeed, I know not how it was that they did not so move me, and I walked on in front of her, heedless of her entreaties that I should wait till she came up beside me.