"You are going to be auctioned off. My father has said so."
"What is that?" asked Erick, who now listened more attentively to Kaetheli.
"Oh, there are a crowd of people in the room and they bid on you, and whoever bids the lowest gets you."
"That is stupid," said Erick.
"Why is it stupid?"
"Because they would get more money if they gave me to him who offers the most."
"No, you did not understand. You are not going to be sold, quite the reverse; he who gets you also gets the money—do you understand now?"
"Who gives him the money?"
"Well, that is not a person, as you think," Kaetheli explained. "Do you see, there is a money box with money in it for the people who are poor and miserable and homeless."
Erick grew purple.