Her demeanour towards him was most frosty; she coughed thrice for every word she spoke.

Mr.Meyer was only waiting for her to say, "Where did you get that nice pipe ?" and behind this expectation was the afterthought that, perhaps, when she knew of the festive origin of the present, Teresa also would hasten to gratify him with birthday gifts.

At last, however, he was forced to begin the conversation of his own accord.
"Look, sister, what a handsome pipe I have!" "It's all that," she replied, without even looking at it.
"My daughter bought it for me as a birthday present.

Look!" and with these words he handed the beautiful artistic masterpiece to Teresa.
She took the pipe by the stem and dashed it so violently against the iron foot of the stove that it flew to pieces in every direction.
Mr.Meyer's mouth fell at both corners dismally.

This was a pleasant birthday greeting if you like! "Sister! what does that mean ?" he cried.
"What does that mean?
It means that you are a stupid, a fool, a blockhead! All the world knows that one of your daughters is the mistress of a nobleman, and you are not only content to live with her and share her shameful earnings, but you actually come here to me and make a boast of it!" "What! Which of my daughters ?" exclaimed Meyer.
Teresa shrugged her shoulders.