had been perfectly innocuous, asking me to befriend Minora.
I read the letter aloud for the benefit of the Man of Wrath,
who was eating Spickgans, a delicacy much sought after in
these parts.
"Do, my dear Elizabeth," wrote my friend, "take some
notice of the poor thing. She is studying art in Dresden,
and has nowhere literally to go for Christmas.
She is very ambitious and hardworking--"

"Then," interrupted the Man of Wrath," she is not pretty.
"Only ugly girls work hard."

"--and she is really very clever--"

"I do not like clever girls, they are so stupid,"
again interrupted the Man of Wrath.

"--and unless some kind creature like yourself takes pity
on her she will be very lonely."

"Then let her be lonely."

"Her mother is my oldest friend, and would be greatly distressed to think
that her daughter should be alone in a foreign town at such a season."

"I do not mind the distress of the mother."

"Oh, dear me," I exclaimed impatiently, "I shall have to ask
her to come!"