When I arrived at the house I was met by the young man who had set me
the morning's task; but he was taciturn now, and wore a cold, estranged
look, which seemed to portend trouble. He at once led me to a part of
the house at a distance from the hall, and into a large apartment I now
saw for the first time. In a few moments the master of the house,
followed by most of the other inmates, also entered, and on the faces of
all of them I noticed the same cold, offended look.

"The dickens take my luck!" said I to myself, beginning to feel
extremely uncomfortable. "I suppose I have offended against the laws and
customs by working the horses too long."

"Smith," said the old man, advancing to the table, and depositing
thereon a large volume he had brought with him, "come here, and read to
me in this book."

Advancing to the table, I saw that it was written in the same minute,
Hebrew-like characters of the folio I had examined on the previous
evening. "I cannot read it; I do not understand the letters," I said,
feeling some shame at having thus publicly to confess my ignorance.

"Then," said he, bending on me a look of the utmost severity, "there is
indeed little more to be said. Nevertheless, we take into account the
confused state of your intellect yesterday, and judge you leniently; and
let us hope that the pangs of an outraged conscience will be more
painful to you than the light punishment I am about to inflict for so
destestable a crime."

I now concluded that I had offended by squeezing Yoletta's hand, and had