TRAMP [takes parcel. Silence] You think I don't understand. [His voice trembles] I fully understand. Had you beaten me like a dog, it would have felt less hard. Don't I understand what I am? I am a rascal, a degenerate, I mean. Forgive me for the Lord's sake. [Sobs, throws the parcel on the table, and goes out hurriedly].
MARTHA. A good thing he didn't take the tea, or we should have had none to drink.
MICHAEL [to wife] And you wanted to teach me!
NEIGHBOUR. How he cried, poor soul.
AKULÍNA. He too was a man.
[1] It is customary for the village authorities to quarter tramps on each peasant household in a village in turn, or in such order as appears convenient.
[2] The tramp, who has had some acquaintance with educated Revolutionaries, tries to introduce foreign words, or words not generally used by workmen, into his talk. In this instance he used the French word merci instead of the plain “thank you.”
[3] The “cigar” will have probably consisted of some bad tobacco rolled up in a bit of newspaper.
[4] As usual he mispronounces his word and calls a “revolver” “a levolver.”