MS-WU-MSS008-3-50-2

[2616] should mention that Martha had insisted, before entering my service, that
I permit her to keep her rocking-chair in the kitchen. [2617] I had refused,
indignantly. [2618] Then, seeing she was inflexible, I had yielded. [2619] I was too
kind-hearted.

[2620] My weekly supply of lager, half-a-dozen quart bottles, was delivered
every Saturday. [2621] I never touched them until the next day, for lager must
be left to settle after the slightest change of place ^{least disturbance}. [2622] Of these six
bottles Gaber and I, together, had emptied one. [2623] There should therefore be
five left, plus the remains of a bottle from the previous week. [2624] I went
into the pantry. [2625] The five bottles were there, corked and sealed, and one
open bottle three quarters empty.

[2626] Martha followed me with her eyes. [2627] I
left without uttering ^[₰] a word to her and went upstairs. [2628] I did nothing but
go to and fro. [2629] I went into my son's room. [2630] Sitting at his little desk he
was admirhⁱng his stamps, the two albums, large and small, open before him.
[2631] When I came up ^{[⁁]On my approach} he shut them hastily. [2632] I saw at once what he was up to. [2633] But
first I said, Have you got your things ready? [2634] He stood up, got his pack
and gave it to me. [2635] I looked inside.

[2636] I put my hand inside and felt through
the contents, staring vacantly before me. [2637] Everything was in. [2638] I gave it
back to him. [2639] What are you doing? I said. [2640] Looking at my stamps, he said.
[2641] You call that looking at your stamps? I said. [2642] Yes papa, he said, with
unimaginable effrontery. [2643] Silence, you little liar! I cried. [2644] Do you know
what he was doing?

[2645] Transferring to the album of duplicates from his good
collection properly so-called, certain rare and valuable stamps which,^[₰]he
was in the habit of gloating over daily and could not bring himself to
leave, even for a few days. [2646] Show me your new Timor, the five reis orange,
I said. [2647] He [e]^hesitated. [2648] Show it to me! I cried. [2649] I had given it to him
myself, it had cost me a florin. [2650] A bargain, at the time. [2651] I've put it in
here, he said piteously, picking up the album of duplicates. [2652] That was all