He has had one of his worst attacks to-day." "Yes," assented the wily Akulina, "and if you could have seen him and heard him in the shop this evening--" She held up her hands and shook her head.
"What did he do and say ?" "Oh, such things, such things! Poor man, of course I am very sorry for him, and I am glad that my husband finds room to employ him, and keep him from starving.

But really, this evening he quite made me lose my temper.

I am afraid I was a little rough, considering that he is sensitive.

But to hear the man talk about his money, and his titles, and his dignities, when he is only just able to keep body and soul together! It is enough to irritate the seven archangels, Herr Schmidt, indeed it is! And then at the same time there was that dreadful Gigerl, and my head was splitting--I am sure there will be a thunder-storm to-night--altogether, I could not bear it any longer, and I actually upset the Gigerl out of anger, and it rolled to the floor and was broken.

Of course it is very foolish to lose one's temper in that way, but after all, I am only a weak woman, and I confess it was a relief to me when I saw the poor Count take the thing away.