“I would have put it there from my supper money.”
The young man looked at Aleko rather curiously, and two of the other men who were with him laughed. The one of them, an older man, said:—
“This is an original little specimen!” and the other, an officer, asked:—
“And why should you be taking from your supper money to make this gentleman a present of three newspapers? Do you not think he is richer than you?”
“That does not matter at all,” answered Aleko. “My father told me that it is a shame always to take, and never to give, however poor you are. He …” pointing with his thumb backwards, “has given me much; may I not befriend him with three newspapers?”
“Ah, that of course alters the question,” remarked the officer.
“I assure you,” began the young man, “that I have never given the child a single thing!” Then turning to Aleko, “Are you thinking of the ‘tsourekia’[10] and red eggs at Easter? but that was from all the members of the Parnassos, not from me alone.”
“No,” said Aleko, “I mean that you have taught me many things, and that is more than things which are eaten and finished.”
“Oh, ho!” laughed the officer, “this is a philosopher we have here.”
“No,” said Aleko gravely, “I have not enough learning; perhaps if I could go to school all day, I might be one, some time.”