"I shall remain with the younger." My brother I envied, who for his part was "at home" with the P. C.
When I kissed my relations' hands at parting, Bálnokházy thrust a silver dollar[21] into my hand, adding with magnificent munificence:
[21] Thaler.
"For a little poppy-cake, you know."
Why, it is true, that in Pressburg very fine poppy-biscuits are made; and it is also true, that many poppy-goodies might be bought, a few at a time, for a dollar; likewise I cannot deny that so much money had never been in my hand, as my very own, to spend as I liked. I would not have exchanged it for two other dollars, if it had not been given me before Melanie. I felt that it degraded me in her eyes. I could not discover what to do with that dollar. I scarce dared to look at Melanie when he departed; still I remarked that she did not look at me either when I left.
At the door Lorand seized my hand.
"Desi," said he severely, "that thing that the P. C. thrust into your hand you must give to the butler, when he opens the carriage door."
I liked the idea. By that they would know who I was; and my eyes would no longer be downcast before cousin Melanie.
But, when I thrust the dollar into the butler's hand, I was so embarrassed by his matter-of-fact grandeur that any one who had seen us might have thought the butler had presented me with something. I hoped uncle would not exclude me from his house for that.
Long did that quadrille sound in my ears; long did that phenomenon-pianist haunt me; how long I cannot tell!