"I have heated myself a little on that steep staircase of yours," she said.
She blamed the staircase for that flaming face of hers.
It then occurred to me that it would only be polite to ask my fair visitor to take a seat. I offered her the sofa.
"Oh, dear, no! That's only for ladies! This will do quite well enough for me." And with that she sat down on my trunk, and put down her basket beside it. "I really am quite tired. I have travelled by the corn-boat as far as Vácz,[33] and thence I have walked all the way to Pest."
[33] Waitzen.
"But you could have gone by steamer?"
"But my master[34] could not give me steamboat fare. We are poor people. Look! this is my whole provision for the journey."
[34] i.e., husband.
And with that she lifted the lid of the basket, and showed me what was inside it: a piece of black bread, and something wrapped up in greasy paper—a piece of cheese possibly, and a garlic-seasoned sausage.
"I must keep this for my return journey."