The Doctor put himself in my way, and Edwarda herself came hurrying up.
“Don't misunderstand me,” she said warmly. “I meant to say I hoped you would be the last to go, the very last. And besides, it's only one o'clock... Listen,” she went on with sparkling eyes, “you gave our boatmen five daler for saving my shoe. It was too much.” And she laughed heartily and turned round to the rest.
I stood with open mouth, disarmed and confused.
“You are pleased to be witty,” I said. “I never gave your boatman five daler at all.”
“Oh, didn't you?” She opened the door to the kitchen, and called the boatmen in. “Jakob, you remember the day you rowed us out to Korholmerne, and you picked up my shoe when it fell into the water?”
“Yes,” answered Jakob.
“And you were given five daler for saving it?”
“Yes, you gave me...”
“Thanks, that will do, you can go.”
Now what did she mean by that trick? I thought she was trying to shame me. She should not succeed; I was not going to have that to blush for. And I said loudly and distinctly: